A Worn Path

I believe the theme of the story is that life is full of events and sometimes very trying for some people. Not many things in life come easy and many people have to work hard for what they want or need in life. Sometimes when you take one path it may lead you to many difficult situations. However, if you keep going and trying down that particular path, good things can come. Especially if it is for a good reason like life or death. Sometimes people have to do things they wouldn't typically do or sacrifice their own lives in order to save another life.


The stories plot was about an old black woman, Phoenix Jackson, whom by the way is the main character of this story, who makes a journey into town, which is miles away from her home, on a cold December day, through the woods(setting) to retrieve some medicine for her sick grandson. She encounters many difficult things along the way. She was caught by a thorn bush, in which she states, "something always take a hold of me on this hill - pleads I should stay." "Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never to let folks pass, no sir." Another situation she encounters is the black dog that come at her and she goes into ditch. Where a white man who is a hunter and his dog find her and help her out of the ditch. The hunter runs off the black dog with his gun and his own dog. He then tries to get, Old phoenix to go on back home. She states "I bound to go to town, mister." "The time come around." Old Phoenix finally gets into town, where she stops a lady on the street and asks her to tie her shoes for her stating "Can't lace 'em with a cane." She then goes into the big building to see the doctor about getting medicine for her grandson who Old Phoenix tells after being asked how her grandson is doing, that he just the same.