Gift of Magi

The literary work that I will be analyzing is parentheses "a worn path" by Eudora Welty. The main theme is that of that determination and endurance. The main character is an old former slave named Phoenix. Her name is a symbol, which represents rebirth out of the ashes. On her long journey to town to get medicine for her grandson who several years ago ingested lye, we see that she has made this journey many times. This journey symbolizes Phoenix's own life journey she was a former slave that was too old to go to school when you emancipation came. However she still endured and survived.

Moreover throughout her journey the symbols of struggle and death are all around her it almost appears as though death is inviting her to just give up and give into it's welcoming invitation. The symbols of death I located in paragraph five when she is going up to healing feels as if though she has changed on her feet. Also, paragraph seven sees Her Way being blocked by her skirts getting caught in the bush. Then in paragraph ten she had overcome a log over a creek. In paragraph fifteen she had to go over Barbwire fence. I struggles still continue in paragraph sixteen when she feel safe at last and want to rest but cannot because a buzzard is watching her.

No matter what she encounters she keeps on going to get to her final destination. No matter what this woman endures it all with the determination of an immovable conviction that the journey to get her grandson medicine to soothe his throat is really symbolic of the journey of her life at the end of our journey she gets her grandson's medicine and embarks on a long journey back home.