A Worn Path

 

                      7. A Worn Path (Eudora Welty)

This is a skillfully controlled story of unconscious heroism of an old Negro woman called Phoenix Jackson. The woman makes a long courageous journey to get medicine for her grandson who has been suffering from an obstinate (never cure) throat problem caused by swallowed lye.

 She begins her journey from home in the early December morning. On the way she faces so many obstacles which she tackles one by one without losing her hope, courage, confidence and her strong determination. She climbs pinewood hill, feeling great fear of wild animals. She taps the bush with her cane and warns the wild animals and birds not to come on her way. Then she goes down the hill through oak trees. Her dress is caught by thorny bushes. It takes her a long time to be free from them.

At the bottom of the hill, there is a log laid over a stream. She gets success to cross it with her balance body, courage and cane.

Now she reaches in barbed wire fence. She keeps her body and dress safe and crawls like a baby to come in another side of the fence. She walked in cotton field. Moreover she feels a bit happy because it is winter and she couldn't see the bulls and two headed snakes. Further, in the corn field she sees a human like figure like a ghost. When she touches the sleeves of it, she finds it cold like ice and realizes it as a scarecrow. She laughs on herself. After that she walks along the wagon track.

She drinks water flowing through a hollow log. Finally she comes to the road. A black dog comes out of weeds by the ditch. She hits the dog with her cane but she herself falls into the ditch. She waits there losing her sense until a white hunter comes there and lifts her up. The white hunter asks her where she is going. She says that she is going to the town. The hunter advises her to go back because the town is far away. The woman is strongly determined to go to the town. The hunter also points the gun at her but she is not frightened.

Finally she reaches to the town. As it is Christmas, the town is decorated with different colors lights. She comes to the hospital but she forgets the purpose of her arrival. Although attendant asks about her grandson, she remains silent for a long time. Ultimately when the nurse asks her whether her grandson is alive or dead then only she comes to consciousness. She gets medicine free of cost and becomes ready to turn back to her house. The attendant gives her a coin. She takes out the coin from her pocket, that the hunter had dropped and she had picked up. She makes a plan to buy a paper made wind mill for her grandson as a Christmas gift.