1.3: Reader response Introduction Eudora Welty was born in 1909 in Jackson, Mississippi.

She was a daughter of Christian Webb Welty and Chestina Andrews Welty. She attended Davis Elementary School when Miss Lorena Duling was principal and graduated from Jacksons Central High School in 1925. One of her masterpiece, A Worn Path is considered as her most prominent and frequently studied short story. It was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1940. Jeanette Winterson once said, however it is debased or misinterpreted, love is a redemptive feature. To focus on one individual so that their desires become superior to yours is a very cleansing experience, thus, A Worn Path describes a tough journey endured by an old, helpless Negro woman named Phoenix Jackson in the jungle spurred by her unconditional love towards her grandson. Thus, she is able to exhibit amazing determination along her journey.

1.3.1: Characters

Characters are the person depicted in a narrative or drama. Thus there are several characters that make up A Worn Path, such as Phoenix Jackson, Hunter, Attendant and Nurse. They are very important to make the storyline more vibrant and interesting. Thus, the characters to be analysed in the story is Phoenix Jackson and the Hunter. Firstly, Phoenix Jackson the, protagonist in the story. In overall, she possesses an excellent internal quality of humankind as she depicted perseverance throughout the arduous journey despite her unfavourable circumstances. Phoenix is an old, haggard and powerless woman that really determined and persevered in order to obtain the medicine for her most treasured grandson. She has to brave a series of sufferings and challenges throughout the journey. First of all, her long skirt was caught by a bush of thorns and only after trembling for quite a while, she manages to free from the bushes, (line 41 and 42). Then, she has to across a creek (line 45) in which the only way to access the opposite side is by walking on a log. By closing her eyes, she mounts on the log (line 47) and paces carefully until she manages to reach the other side. Afterwards,

she must to go through a barbed-wire fence by creeping and crawling (line 58 and 59). I think it is not an easy task for an ageing woman who has poor eyesight and decreasing body agility like her. However with great determination and perseverance for the sake of her grandson she manages to endure all the difficulties. Moreover, Phoenix Jackson is a loving grandmother. She is willing to sacrifice herself to obtain the medicine for her grandson. She bears the humiliation and insult by the others. For example; the white hunter shows his disrespect by asking her to go back home as he thinks that old woman is not able to make a long journey (line 129 and 130). Then, he also reveals biased attitudes toward an African American woman like her as he assumes that the sole reason for her to take such a long trail is to see Santa Claus (line 134 and 135). Despite the direct humiliation she received, she keeps pursuing her journey just to get the medicine for her ill grandson who permanently injured himself due to swallowing the lye. Moreover, she sacrifices the money she steal from the white hunter and a nickel she receives from the attendant to buy a Christmas present for her grandson. Furthermore, Phoenix Jackson is a polite woman. For example, when she reaches the town and she realizes that her shoes are unlaces then she asks for help from the passers-by to tie the shoes for her as she cannot bend. A woman obliges her to tie the shoelaces and afterwards she thanks the woman (line 183). Before that, during the encounter with the hunter, he shows disrespect and rude manner towards Phoenix, however Phoenix still address him as mister to show her courtesy(line 133). Then, Phoenix Jackson also exhibits herself as a person who possesses pride and dignity. For example, she wants herself to be neat and clean before entering a building (line 179 and 180). So, she asks a passer-by to help her tie her shoelaces (line 177). Besides, Phoenix Jackson is very old and almost reaching her senility. For instances, during her trail, she keeps talking aimlessly. She speaks to wild animals such as foxes, owls, beetles and jack rabbits to get out of her way (line 19 and 20). Then, when she rests under a tree, she imagines a boy is bringing a piece of marble cake to her (line 54 and 55). However, she comes to her conscience when she realizes that she grasps nothing but the air. Then, she in a dried cornfields, she assumes that she

encounters a ghost (line 79) but then she knows there is no ghost except a scarecrow. Then, in the clinic, the attendant tries to ask her purpose for coming there but no avail. Then, she sat and finally utters that It was my memory had left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip. It clearly shows that she perseveres her senility as well along the trip. Then, there is another character that plays significant role in the story. He is the white hunter. The hunter encounters Phoenix after she falls into a ditch. Then, he assists her to get up from the ditch (line 120). However, he subsequently reveals his true colours as his attitude shows rudeness and a sense of racism. Firstly, he said that Phoenix will not bear the long journey and advises her to go home (line 132). That shows that he is looking down of Phoenix. Then, he assumes that the only reason the Negro woman to endure the whole journey is to see Santa Claus (line 134 and 135). This depicts he practises biased attitude toward black people. Then, he insults Phoenix when he tells Phoenix that he will give her a dime if he has any (line 162), but unaware that she already picked the scattered pennies that accidently fell from his pocket. In overall, I think the character that I like the most is Phoenix Jackson. This is because she reminds me to my old grandmother who is only a simple and strong woman who possesses a remarkable sacrificing nature. Phoenix has a strong sense of responsibility and commitment towards her family. She is willingly to travel alone in the woods despite her unfavourable circumstances such as her senility just to obtain a medicine for her ill grandson. For example, she speaks to the thorny bushes to give her privileges by allowing the folk (her) to pass (line 38 and 39). Fortunately, the path she takes is really familiar to her as she has uses it frequently. Then, she is old and weak. This is when the path she takes run up a hill. She says seems like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far. That shows that she is already tired and weary, but she keeps go through the journey. She is also prepared to sacrifice the pennies to get a Christmas present to her grandson with hope that the days of her grandson will be brighten up (line 256, 257 and 258). Therefore, her simplicity, strength and sacrificing nature really reminds me to my old grandmother who used to look after me when I was small, giving me unconditional loves and always protect me when I am in difficulties.

Besides, I like Phoenix Jackson the most because she is brave, courageous and calm person. During the encounter with the hunter, she is willing to use her wits to steal the pennies (line 149, 150 and 151) that are accidently scattered by the hunter even though she feels guilty to do so. This is evidenced by her words God watching me all the time. I come to steal. She also chooses the right time when the hunter is away. All of sudden, the hunter points his rifle (line 155) with intent to scare and tease her but she manages to remain calm and steady showing that she has done nothing wrong. Later, the hunter exclaims Well granny, he said, you must be a hundred years old and scared of nothing. Truly, I really admire her brave but calm reaction.

1.3.2: Theme Theme is the central topics, main idea, messages or concepts that the writer tends to point out in a story. Therefore, in my opinion the main theme of the short story, a worn path by Eudora Welty is the love of a grandmother towards her grandson. Then, she depicts her love by her will to sacrifice everything in enduring a long, adventurous journey even though her will is barricaded by her unfavourable circumstances. The theme is portrayed in numerous events in the story. For example, she needs to go through a barbed-wire fence where she has to creep and crawl, spreading her knees and stretching her fingers like a baby trying to climb the steps (line 58). This demands physical agility and strength in which naturally a hard and rare condition of a normal old woman to have. Then, she is strong enough to swallow all the humiliation from the attendant. The statement made by the attendant A charity case, I suppose, shows a status and age discrimination. Then, the old Phoenix remains silent in the conversation until a nurse comes in and explains who she is. Therefore, it shows that she has gone through a tough situation which requires an outstanding emotional perseverance. Then, the attendant offers her a few pennies from her purse. Phoenix replies five pennies is a nickel. Later she says I going to the store and buy my child a little windmill they sells, showing that she is going to sacrifice the pennies for her adored grandson.

1.3.3: Setting Moreover, the setting is the location and the time frame the story takes place. There are several settings that provide a lot of information that enable me to visualize the story better. Besides, the setting also helps the development of characters in the story and to reveal the themes. Thus in the short story, A Worn Path, the first setting is in December (line 1). The author introduces the story in a bright, frozen December morning. Phoenix Jackson faces hardship in the beginning of the journey in which she must overcome the coldness due to winter in December. Then, the story takes place in the woods. This is because the author describes the place by Now and then there was a quivering in the thicket. Old Phoenix said, Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals! Those wild animals only live in the woods. Then, the story sets in a field of dead corn (line 72). Here, the main character, Phoenix Jackson, encounters with a scarecrow in which she assumes it as a ghost as she is senile and has poor eyesight. Other than that, the story also takes place in the town of Natchez (line 168). She asks a favour from a lady to tie her shoelaces (line 177) as she wants to look neat and clean before entering the building. The lady obliges and she thanks her (line 183) showing that she is polite. The other setting is in the doctors office. Here she meets attendant who initially humiliate her by saying A charity case, and in return she speaks nothing when the attendant asks her the further details.

1.3.4: Issue Furthermore, there are several issues in the short story that is highlighted by the author. Firstly, the issue of racism and age discrimination. The White hunter represents prejudice toward black people. He treats Phoenix Jackson unfairly by insulting her in his words. For example; He gave another laugh, filling the whole landscape I know you old coloured people! Wouldnt miss to see Santa Claus. He also assumes that the old

people like her will not stand the long journey (line 129 and 130). This issue stresses on the age and racial disparity among the Americans around the period of World War II. Then, the concern the author raises in this short story is the endurance of an elderly woman to bear the hardship along the journey that she is familiar with. The trail is long and challenging. However, her endurance and spirit overwhelms her weaknesses as she is motivated by the willpower to obtain medicine for her grandson. How can an old woman get the spirit to brave all the challenges in the woods as her condition is unfavourable too? She is old, haggard, and live in poverty with her only grandson. She sacrifices her feelings, money and physical pain to acquire a medicine for her ill grandson. For example, she must overcome her fright and fear as she encounters a scarecrow (line 84) that initially she assumes as a dancing ghost (line 79). Then, she must brave the horrendous trail for an elderly woman like her. For instance, when crossing a creek there is no other way than using a log (line 47). She is fears and feels that the trail is challenging. This is evidenced by now comes the trial, when she sees a log is laid across the creek. Then, she shut her eyes showing that she is fears. For example, in the story putting her right leg out, she mounted the log and shut her eyes. Lastly, she manages to go through all the difficulties despite her old age, as she reaches the city of Natchez in one piece then getting a bottle of medicine for her grandson. Conclusion In the nutshell, life is a journey. Sometimes, we feel exhilarate, excited and happy but there is also the dark side. Usually, a motivation drives us in reaching our goal that transforms us into a highly spirited and strong person in which unleash the great qualities within ourselves. Therefore, we must never surrender when facing hardship in life despite the weaknesses that barricade us to do so. Live a happy life and never blame others for our lacks and weaknesses but instead carry on our hard work to gain success in the future.