A Worn Path Essay, Research Paper

Fate can take control of humans lives and can help humans reach the end of the challenging path. The path is a journey which can not be totally controlled by humans. There will always be obstacles that will rely on fate. In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson faces many obstacles. Before Phoenix made it down the hill, the bush got caught in her clothes. It shows that you should not judge from the outside and that things are not always what they seem. In life you will come across people and objects that are harsher than you imagine. She also stumbled upon a scarecrow that scared her. This shows that life and the path are both filled with surprises and entertainment. The white man told her that town was far away and that she should head home. But she knew that she must continue for her grandson and it shows that you should not always trust that the advice given is the best. Phoenix Jackson was determined to travel down the worn path to reach town. Determination was a key factor to her success down the path but I think that fate was on her side and it helped her through. For example, Phoenix crossed a creek by a log. She closed her eyes and it was fate that got her across safely. She came across a scarecrow that momentarily brought happiness to her. When she was walking down the road a black dog suddenly jumped up on her and pushed her to the ground. “A white man finally came along and found her – a hunter, a young man, with his dog on a chain. I think that this shows that fate had brought a person to help lift her up just when she needed it. It also brought an opportunity for her to pocket a nickel she saw. Kindness is very important in the story because it showed that there are many people who are willing to lend a hand to help an old lady. The white man helped her up and a lady helped lace up her shoe. “‘Stand still then, Grandma’ said the lady. She put her packages down on the sidewalk beside her and laced and tied both shoes tightly.” This shows that Phoenix was not too shy to ask politely for help and she received the help that she needed. It also shows that the world is not filled with mean or arrogant people. She was considered a charity case and received medicine for free. The kind doctor was even willing to give her a nickel since it was Christmas. Overall fate was brought up many times. If she had gotten caught taking the nickel she saw fall out of the white man’s pocket, she might have gotten killed. He could have pointed his gun at her and fate would have then taken her to her grave. In the end she almost forgot the reason for the long trip. It shows that it is sometimes the journey that was important to her and not so much the end result.