A Worn Path

A Worn Path by Eudora Welty portrays an old woman's journey through the woods in order to reach town and pick up a bottle of medicine for her grandson. The path through the woods is filled with various surprises and obstacles, but Phoenix Jackson, the old woman manages to venture forth and reach town. When she arrives in town she stops a lady with an armful of Christmas packages and asks her, "Please, missy, will you lace up my shoe?"She holds up her foot and the lady puts down her packages and laces both shoes tightly. Kindness is important in this story and we see this kindness portrayed by several characters like the hunter who pulls Phoenix out of the ditch and the nurse who gives her the medicine for her grandson. Fate is also present in that Phoenix Jackson strives and is destined to reach town even though she faces dangerous encounters in the woods and ignores the hunter who suggests she goes back. The story shows that there are still good people that we rely on and do help us achieve our purpose as we embark on the journeys, paths or directions we choose to travel throughout life.