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A Worn Path Eudora Weltys story Worn Path is a good example of author being able to introduce readers to a very wide emotional spectrum, despite the fact that this story is very short. This is done thorough excessive use of symbolism, as writing method. The plot of Worn Path is quite simple. Old woman Phoenix Jackson walks a long way to the town through the woods and cornfield to get her grandson some medicine. She experiences different emotions, while walking.
The nature here plays a role of her companion, in symbolical way, as it conveys her a different messages. It is only in the end of the story do we find out the purpose of her trip. But the plot itself hardly revolves around the pragmatical intent of Jacksons journey, especially after we learn that her grandson is very unlikely to recover, since he had swallowed lye. Nevertheless, there is an illusive aura of purposefulness in how old lady walks. Replying to hunters suggestion that it would be better for her if she turned around and went back, grandma said: I bound to go to town, mister The time come around.
As a matter of fact, the old womans trip can be thought of in terms of metaphysical quest. The seeming futility of it, from practical point of view, is meant to emphasize its spiritual aspects. Author skillfully provides us with a sense of stillness when he describes nature. It is meant to show us the transgressive essence of Jacksons trip. She is old; therefore, we can associate her with death more than with hiking through the woods. Still, she walks, while even the woods seem to be dead and silent.
The ultimate purpose of her trip, even though she doesnt realize it is to defy the laws of nature. It is not by accident that Welty mentions the bushes of thorn, which try to prevent Jackson from reaching her destination: "Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir. Grandma tries to deny to herself the fact that she already knows - her trip will prove to be pointless in the end. The hostile environment is the most important element that brings about her epiphany. When grandma meets the hunter, he looks down upon her with a sense of pity, since she appears as being too old to walk long distances.
Still, his pity has the properties of amusement. Well, Granny! he laughed. What are you doing there? riding the horse and being young, gives this man the sense of superiority. Nevertheless, even though that he can ride in any direction he wants and can do it ten times faster than the old grandma, he doesnt seem to have the most important thing - the sense of purpose.
If quest is thought as philosophical category, than the hunter will emerge as object of it, while grandma Jackson is clearly the subject. As it appears in the end, Jackson wasnt even consciously remembering the purpose of her journey, but it is the journey itself that gives purpose for anyone that undertakes it. This is exactly why many people enjoy driving cars without any particular reason. The old saying goes as long as man is on his way, he possesses the hope.
Grandma Jackson is forced to act in pointless manner so that her whole existence would make sense. In my opinion, it is the most important Jackson's epiphany subconsciously she knows that she needs to act irrationally, in order to be able to think of herself as reasonable person. Another theme of Worn Path is the irrational nature of love. It is love that gives strength to those who travel.
At the end, we actually learn that grandma Jackson makes her trips to the town on regular basis. Apparently, grandma could forget why she had to come to the town, but she could never forget about her love to her grandson. After she was being given a nickel by the nurse, she never had a slightest doubt about what to do with it. Its all clear to her: I going to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells, made out of paper. Since the times of Cervantes, the images of windmills are used in the literature as symbol of absurd. But the absurd does make sense if its filled with love it seems to be the essence of Weltys message to the readers.
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Research essay sample on Worn Path Make Sense
