Phoenix Jackson’s Relationship to the “Birds” in “a Worn Path”
In the short story “A Worn Path”, Eudora Welty clearly emphasizes an important relationship between Phoenix Jackson and birds. Phoenix’s name is most defiantly the biggest indication of bird symbolism. Her appearance is another relationship between her and the legend of the phoenix. A phoenix is described as having a beautiful red, gold and feathery coat. At the beginning of the story Phoenix is also defined as having a, “a golden color underneath, and two knobs of her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the dark”(620). Also, Phoenix’s hair is tied back in a “red rag”. However, Phoenix’s actions also indicate her relationship with a phoenix. Throughout a phoenix’s life cycle it is know to make long journeys to a place where it restores its life, engulfing in flames and resurrecting from the ashes. Phoenix Jackson makes long trips to the city of Natchez to acquire medicine for her grandchild. The medicine and journey is an example of the restoration of life. Not only to renew the life of her sick grandchild but also her own. Phoenix’s journey itself has relation to the mythical phoenix. Near the end of the story, Phoenix arrives at the hospital where she freezes up and no one is able to communicate with her. Welty quotes, “there was a fixed and ceremonial stiffness over her body”(620). When the nurse asks Phoenix “Is he dead?” (620). The nurse is referring to Phoenix’s sick grandchild. These words seem to bring Phoenix back to life. Phoenix then says, “there was a flicker and then a flame of comprehension across her face, and she spoke”(620). This foreshadows a renewal of life, just as a phoenix resurrects its own life from fire and ashes. Everything about Phoenix Jackson is indicative of a phoenix. Her actions, behavior, and appearance are relevant to those of the phoenix Throughout the story there are many other references to “birds” besides Phoenix’s relation with a phoenix. Welty describes Phoenix as carrying “a thin, small cane made from