A Worn Path

"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty

"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty describes the undying love of Phoenix Jackson to her grandson. This crazy, old lady treks miles throughout the day to get medication for him, yet throughout the short story, many indications elude that the grandson is no longer alive. Welty describes a scene, "Down in the hollow was the mourning dove- it was not too late for him (Welty, 224)." Within context, the mourning dove flew into the sunlight like a soul would fly to heaven. The utilization of a pun she recites mourning to not only indicate the type of bird. It signifies a death, not a simple sunrise. Also, Phoenix hallucinates twice during her excursion. While she rested, her grandson  "brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it (224)..." She reaches up to receive the cake yet obtains nothing. Further on, she imagines a person helping her up when she falls. The little boy in her dreams tried to help her up, yet when she reached her hand remains empty. Her mind gives her someone that Phoenix cannot keep in real life. It offers her her grandson, which relays to the theme. She will do anything to keep his memory alive in her mind.