"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty

"Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead"


       Phoenix Jackson is herself a symbol of nature. In her characterization by Welty, she is described using scenes from the wild, such as trees and spiderwebs. In class, we had said that she is very bird-like in action and mannerisms. The further symbolism of Phoenix is shown in her own struggle with nature. The thorns rip her dress and animals rustle in the brush, but she is not intimidated. She simply tells the creatures to stay out of her way. She talks aloud to all of her obstacles as if they were people and compares trees to black men. In all honesty she fits in well with nature around her. Perhaps her senility allows her to fit in with such a chaotic environment.