ZERO.
How in the.... how does this happen? It should be literally impossible to earn a zero, I did something therefore it is worth something (so this isn't the best logic but you'll survive). Anyway here's the essay, you tell me what you think it deserves.
At the End Lies a Better Place:
An allegorical reading of Welty's A Worn Path
MY NAME, MY STUDENT ID
ENE100, Dr. Streight
The path followed by Phoenix Jackson is one which is well worn. Many travellers before her attempted the journey, and certainly not all of them succeeded. The trials one face on the path are harrowing and many. The trials are life threatening. They are so because there are many people who want nothing more than to see the enslavement of the black people in southern America, and would kill to see that challenged. Phoenix Jackson is a literary representation of a slave escaping racism by fleeing to Canada.
Even as the story starts one sees that Phoenix is surrounded by “'foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals'” (470). These packs of beasts are a threat to Phoenix, attempting to keep her from moving forward on her journey. The escape of a black slave begins by fleeing the monsters who are keeping control over the individual. These monsters can be cruel and dangerous, with their whips and guns. This imagery is subtly supported in the text with the inclusion of the word 'whip' in the following line. Phoenix is right in saying “I got a long way” (470); hell is a long way down.
As she walks among the pine trees the image comes to mind that the natural flora and landscape of her path simulates her escape. The pines are covered in sharp, painful needles, and the thorn bushes are more dangerous still. These plants are the people of the south – unkind and inhospitable to the black woman, who journeys on her way to freedom. The thorns go so far as to trap her – it is not without extraordinary effort on behalf of her frail hands that she escapes the grasp of the bushes. She struggled to release herself from their spines, unwilling to let the rip at the colourful clothing she wore.
It is with this release that she crosses the river on the fallen log, escaping slavery and moving into a new world across the river. It is only just that the imagery suggests she walks above those who controlled her, the oppressive pines, as she becomes part of the free society. It is at this moment that Phoenix is freed from slavery, but that is not to say that her journey is over. Slaves were not safe in northern America either, as they were running from the law – regardless of who exactly was imposing that law. Northern America might not be the south, but it still isn't Canada. Phoenix needs to carry on.
The taste of freedom is in sight, however. Phoenix imagines at this point a slice of cake, marbled with the opposing colours that ultimately dominated her life. She sees this freedom within her future and says, “That would be acceptable” (471). With goal in sight, she carries on. As she passes the empty cotton field it is evident that she is walking past the portion of her life in captivity. The cotton and corn fields, with their scarecrow master, are left behind.
Phoenix is named after a bird herself. This emblematic name points to the fact that she is a woman who is taking flight. Moreover, she is having a complete change of lifestyle, or what one might call a certain rebirth: characteristic of the phoenix. Taking this further, she is an old black woman; hence, she represents a black bird. The scarecrow she walks past will scare her, the old crow, no more – the control he once held over is now held over nothing but the empty corn field. Through her seeming deliriousness Phoenix comments on this overcoming; she says to the scarecrow, “'My senses is gone'” (472). This is true, as she has left and they have gone with her.
The 'marbling' of the two races becomes immediately visible on her path. The road is unkind to her, putting in her way a mongrel who knocks her into the ditch. This dog is the cruelty of men; there are those who would see Phoenix suffer for the sake of her race. She is not now where she was before, however, and so a white man helps her to her feet. This is the most evident and powerful acknowledgement of Phoenix's escape from slavery in the story. So far now is Phoenix from the racist place she came from that
Phoenix enters the city, and it is seen here that the hardships of her journey are over. Much has changed since her journey began; the pines amongst which she once walked are now strong oaks. The bushes which trapped her and threatened to ruin her dress are replaced with light springy weeds to protect her from her fall into the ditch. Phoenix has become ten cents richer. Most importantly, however, is that she has finally received her 'medicine'. This medicine is freedom – but the irony lies in the fact that now that she is in Canada she no longer needs to acquire it. It is Phoenix's belief that the rest of her family deserves this freedom too, and so she sets out to deliver it unto them.
Rough draft
Phoenix Jackson is traveling a route which many before her have attempted. Not all of them succeeded. The trials one face on the path are harrowing and many. The trials are life threatening. They are so because there are many people who want nothing more than to see the enslavement of the black people in southern America, and would kill to see that challenged. Phoenix Jackson is a literary representation of a slave escaping racism by fleeing to Canada.
Even as the story starts one sees that Phoenix is surrounded by wild and feroucious beasts. These packs of beasts are a threat to Phoenix, attempting to keep her from moving forward on her journey. The escape of a black slave begins by fleeing the monsters who are keeping control over the individual. These monsters can be cruel and dangerous, with their whips and guns. The text subtly reinforces this image with the word 'whip'. Phoenix is right in saying she has a long way to go. Canada is not going to be easy to get to on the underground railroad.
The trees and plants represent the surroundings on her journey. The pines are covered in sharp, painful needles, and the thorn bushes are more dangerous still. These plants are the people of the south – unkind and inhospitable to the black woman, who journeys on her way to freedom. The thorns go so far as to trap her – it is not without extraordinary effort on behalf of her frail hands that she escapes the grasp of the bushes. She struggled to release herself from their spines, unwilling to let the rip at the colorful clothing she wore which was her spirit.
Phoenix crossing the river is a metaphorical representation of becoming a free woman.
She can now taste freedom. Phoenix imagines at this point a slice of cake, marbled with the opposing colors that ultimately dominated her life. She sees this freedom within her future and says that she wants nothing more. With goal in sight, she carries on. As she passes the empty cotton field it is evident that she is walking past the portion of her life in captivity. The cotton and corn fields, with their scarecrow master, are left behind.
Phoenix is named after a bird herself. This emblematic name points to the fact that she is a woman who is taking flight. Moreover, she is having a complete change of lifestyle, or what one might call a certain rebirth: characteristic of the phoenix. Taking this further, she is an old black woman; hence, she represents a black bird. The scarecrow she walks past will scare her, the old crow, no more – the control he once held over is now held over nothing but the empty corn field. Through her seeming deliriousness Phoenix comments on this overcoming; she says to the scarecrow that she is no longer under his control.
The 'marbling' of the two races becomes immediately visible on her path. The road is unkind to her, putting in her way a mongrel who knocks her into the ditch. This dog is the cruelty of men; there are those who would see Phoenix suffer for the sake of her race. She is not now where she was before, however, and so a white man helps her to her feet. This is the most evident and powerful acknowledgment of Phoenix's escape from slavery in the story. So far now is Phoenix from the racist place she came from that
Phoenix enters the city, and it is seen here that the hardships of her journey are over. Much has changed since her journey began; the pines amongst which she once walked are now strong oaks. The bushes which trapped her and threatened to ruin her dress are replaced with light springy weeds to protect her from her fall into the ditch. Phoenix has become ten cents richer. Most importantly, however, is that she has finally received her 'medicine'. This medicine is freedom – but the irony lies in the fact that now that she is in Canada she no longer needs to acquire it. It is Phoenix's belief that the rest of her family deserves this freedom too, and so she sets out to deliver it unto them.
Works Cited
Rooke, Constance. The Clear Path: A Guide to Writing English Essays. Guelph: U of Guelph, 2004
Welty, Eudora. “A Worn Path”. The Seagull Reader: Stories. 2nd ed. Ed. Joseph Kelly. New York: Norton, 2001. 469–77.
That was a good read man, thanks.
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