A Worn Path

Eudora Welty's A Worn Path is a story with a heart-warming theme, a grandmother's love. In order to soothe her ailing grandson, Phoenix makes a treacherous journey to town. She overcomes many obstacles, each more daunting then the last. Thorms ensare her, dogs growl at her, and gunshots frighten her, yet she continues on, all for her grandson. However, these are not Phoenix's only challenges on her quest. She appears to be battling not only the phyiscal conditions, but her own failing mentality. This is apparent when she finally reaches her destination, and forgets why she was there. She admits to the nurse, "It ws my memory that left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip" (Welty, 229). However, these mental problems only cement the theme of a grandmother's love to the reader. Phoenix clearly loved her grandson so much that the physical risks the journey posed were of little consequence. She also loved him enough that, even when she forgot about him, she complete her journey and made it to the medicane. She no doubt felt in her heart she had an important job to do, even if her mind could not remember it.