In the short story, “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty the concept of characterization examines the relationship between Phoenix and her grandson. Phoenix Jackson is a stock character in the story. A stock character is a stereotypical person whom audiences readily recognize from frequent recurrences in a particular literary tradition. She is a major character that does minor things. She represents a grandmother who is willing to do anything for her grandchild. Phoenix shows immense bravery throughout the story many times. She was pointed at with a gun and she took on other obstacles that an elderly person wouldn’t. She is treated with disrespect as well, when she arrives at the clinic. Through her actions, we learn of Phoenix Jackson’s devotion …show more content…
Her character is portrayed as old Negro woman with no common sense. For example, “She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of the pendulum in a grandfather clock” (86). The author makes Phoenix seem illiterate by not completing her sentences or sounding as if she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. As this quote shows, “I in a thorny bush,” she said. “Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush” (87). There she is captured talking to herself. Old Phoenix isn’t and idiot though she knows exactly what she’s doing and why she’s doing it in the beginning of …show more content…
She finally cares about her appearance enough to stop a young woman with tons of presents in her hand to tie her shoe. “Please, missy will you lace up my shoe?” she held up her foot (90). And the woman very kindly ties her shoes tightly. As old Phoenix enter the hospital she’s immediately insulted by the attendant. For example, “A charity case, I suppose” (90). A nurse came along and remembered what she came there for before and asked her questions about her grandson but Phoenix completely forgot. “My grandson. It was my memory had left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip” (91). Even though Phoenix nearly forgot why she traveled her grandson is always the reason she continues to
Also like Everyday Use, A Worn Path takes place at a time in the 1900s when racism existed. Just like Mama, Phoenix also takes care and protects a child. However, the child she takes care of is her grandson. Many years ago, her grandson swallowed lye. This is a strong substance which is used in making soap.
In the short story Welty’s want the reader to be comfortable with Phoenix as a character. Welty describes Phoenix wearing a long dress reaching her shoe top and a long apron of bleached sugar sacks. When Phoenix talks aloud to herself the author wants the reader to imagine an old woman with characteristics of a warm, comical, young spirited woman side of her. The short story also uses images which evoke from the biblical imagery. Phoenix’s uses biblical connection to show the reader how important her story and the
Despite a journey fueled by grief a friendship can be reborn with a new start for both parties. This is exemplified in “This Is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie when Victors father dies and he must travel to Phoenix, Arizona to retrieve his father’s personal belongings but he has financial trouble. He is able to scavenge $100 from the Tribal Council but it isn't enough to get to Phoenix, Arizona and back. When his strange old childhood friend, Thomas finds out about his father’s death he asks to tag along in exchange for the rest of the money Victor needs. Although the characterization in "This Is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" by Sherman Alexie is exhibiting Victor as underprivileged throughout the story,
Life is hard, especially when you are a young man from China trying to make a life in America. This is portrayed throughout Gish Jen’s novel, Typical American. In this novel, a young man moves from China to America to study to become an engineer and he goes through many hardships trying to make a new life there. The young man, Ralph, struggles through many aspects of settling into his new life and creating new relationships in America. Jen uses setting, characterization, and foreshadowing throughout the novel to describe the many struggles Ralph goes through during his new life.
All readers have come across the stereotypical character who is charming, good-looking, and the savior of the story and our hearts, but that is present in commercial fiction. In literary fiction, characters are something greater and deeper. In literary fiction, characterization is considered one of the most important elements in an author’s work. Characterization is the concept of creating a character.
Phoenix Jackson is a woman who will not give up, despite the odds. Which leads to her being successful and reaching her purpose, in the
Pheonix Jackson’s grandson is dead because she shows signs of dementia, she hesitates when asked about how the boy is doing, and she says words that imply the boy isn’t changing. The story “ A Worn Path” follows the difficult trip routinely made by Pheonix on foot to a nearby town for her grandson’s medicine which he needs for his swollen throat. Pheonix shows signs of dementia which would affect her perception of reality and her grandson being alive or dead. In the line, “At first she took it as a man,” referring to her encountering a scarecrow, Pheonix shows that her senses are inadequate enough to believe a scarecrow is a man dancing in a field (762). Pheonix is more reliant on her body remembering the trail than her sense of sight
The Secret Lives of People The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, is an interesting story that connects human lives to bees. The story takes place in 1964 during the Civil Rights Movement and fourteen year-old Lily Owens leaves her abusive father and her home in Sylvan, South Carolina to go to Tiburon with hopes to find information on her mother. Throughout the story, Lily struggles with many internal conflicts and also meets several mother figures along the way.
She exemplifies Christ along her journey when she stops under a mistletoe tree; the same type of tree in which the cross was made. The thorns she encounters also relate to Christ’s death on the cross, the crown of thorns he wears on his head. The journey she takes to get her grandson’s medicine, is considered to be an example of self-sacrifice. Phoenix gives others the opportunity to help her and accomplish good things. One example is when the hunter helps her out of the ditch.
Given her grandson’s injuries that hope is as fragile as the paper windmill. This reminds us that hope is fragile, and is contingent on historical and civil efforts beyond Phoenix and her grandson. Phoenix Jackson perseveres to achieve a purposeful goal. Phoenix Jackson stayed true to her faith in times of desperation. Against the obstacles, she was willing to reach her destination to provide her grandson with the medicine he is in need of.
While walking up the path, Phoenix has had to overcome obstacles while it seems like death is in the form of chains around her feet. Even so, she continues onward to freedom. The scene continues while Phoenix passes trees and birds and animals, and suddenly she is crawling through a barbed-wire fence. The change in scenery indicates how Phoenix might be somewhat confused, especially because she is old. It also indicates how Phoenix’s journey was not one of peacefulness, rather, it was one of survival.
Do you know anyone who has Orinthophobia, the fear of birds? Or do you yourself fear the birds? “The Birds”, written by Daphne De Maurier, is a short story that uses various literary terms to make an exceptional piece of writing. The story uses the literary devises such as foreshadowing, imagery, and characterization to create an exhilarating tale. Maurier uses these three components to tell a thrilling story that keeps the reader on edge.
The Phoenix: The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth. The Phoenix is known for rising from the ashes after being burned. In the story after the city has been destroyed, Granger compares the destruction to the bird. Both are destroyed and rise from the destruction. So if Granger and the others use their knowledge, they won’t be like the Phoenix and prevent destruction.
Some references even suggest Phoenix may have once been a slave; such as the chains the old woman feels on her feet as she climbs the path uphill. Racial inequality is unmistakably clear when the old woman falls in the ditch and is confronted by the white hunter. One would believe the hunter calling Phoenix Granny to be a harmless reference to her age; however, Granny is a term coined by southern whites in the thirties and forties and refers to a single elderly black woman: a granny is an old black woman who takes care of the white
My original thesis of Phoenix Jackson being a simple yet complex character was grossly understated. After reading Saunder’s article, I discovered that I had given the character analysis a superficial treatment. I tend to see things at face value instead of looking for symbolism. In my analysis, I assumed she had been through many difficulties mainly due to her race. This was probably true and more than likely helped shape who she was.