A Worn Path

The story, “A Worn Path”, is about an old woman, Phoenix Jackson, who makes her way out into the woods to a nearby town. We are made to believe that it is a far distance for a woman of her age to walk. The story starts with describing her and the path she takes, all the while mentioning the nature and Phoenix’s various encounters. The main focus of the story switches from her journey …

…lost and almost confused for a moment. Perhaps she just comes for the satisfaction of knowing that she tried to help him, or perhaps she is seeking penance because she is partly responsible for him ingesting the lye. No one knows. Maybe if the boy had been introduced earlier, we, the readers, would have been able to guess if her journeys were because of a present-day illness or a way to redeem a guilty conscience.