A worn Path

"It was December--a bright frozen day in the early morning." It was that day, that "bright" day, that Phoenix Jackson, the main character in Eudora Wetley's "A Worn Path " . . . walked slowly in the dark pine shadows . . ." This practice in contradiction prevails throughout "The Worn Path." Wetley utilizes contradiction to show Phoenix's conflict of self versus self while pursuing the ultimate goal of her grandson's well-being. Wetley has demonstrated the paralel in Phoenix's varying patterns of …

…apparent both in each individual conflict and throughout the story. Each conflict has Phoenix gaining strength. Her mounting strength is apparent by her stance or her gait.After the contradiction, Phoenix loses the strength, only for it to resurface again when faced with another encumbrance. The overall story also corresponds to Phoenix's gait. Phoenix begins her journey tired and full of inner conflict. With the conflicts resolved, she turns and marches "back where he waiting."