The Motivation of Love in “a Worn Path” by Eudora Welty

Love is a very powerful and compelling feeling. It may lead people to act in ways that they never substantiate in advance and to move people to deluge and accomplish tasks that would otherwise await impossible. Sophocles once stated, One word frees us all of the weight and disturb of life That word is love. This statement is the underlying ingredient that motivates the main constitution in Eudora Weltys short story, A Worn Path. The story portrays an senior char charrs tour to the city during a frozen daylight in December to obtain medicine for her grandsons chronically cutting throat.Welty uses strong symbolism through issue the story to depict just how authoritative love displace be. From the beginning, Welty reiterates the fact that phoenix, the elderly grandmother, is very obsolescent and poor. capital of Arizona is very small and fragile, walks very slowly and uses a thin take to task man striving non to acquaint ear with every step she takes, has an for estage made of sugar sacks, and many an(prenominal) wrinkles embedded on her face. Welty also hints to the subscriber that the grandmother has very weak eyesight, possibly cataracts disease.Phoenix until now mistakes a scarecrow for a man dancing in the field and laughs while saying, My senses is gone. I too old. I the oldest people I ever populate (802). After presented with these facts, one may be skeptical of Phoenix end even half of the journey since elderly people are usually associated with words like slow, weak, and inactive. Phoenix, however, contradicts the accepted image of a typical grandmother. Instead, Phoenixs mentionistics consist of being active, strong, and full of disposition. The only motivating factor that ignites these characteristics in her is the love for her grandson.She has the mindset that she will endure any blockage in order to obtain medicine just so her grandson can tolerate with the least pain possible. As she finally begins her journey, Phoe nix experiences many obstacles that force her to show her privileged distinctiveness. Every stage of Phoenixs journey is difficult. Welty shows strong symbolism through each obstacle presented before the grandmother. The pull in Phoenix also describes a bird that is fabled to live up to 500 years old only to burn itself and nurture over again from its ashes in freshness of youth. This symbol may represent a new hope or an emblem of being restored after groovy uffering, just like the grandmother is renew with new hope and demand after completing each obstacle. Right away as the roadway turns into a hill, Phoenix is setback. She says, Seem like thither is chains almost my feet, time I get this far. Something always takes a hold of me on this hill pleads I should stay (800). Just as she exerts enough strength to conquer the hill, her dress gets caught in a thorn bush and she again is setback. This situation exemplifies how poor she is because she tries so hard to break free without part her dress.The next challenge is climbing through a barbed-wire fence. For such an old and frail woman, one would think it would be hard to crouch plenty and crawl on her hands and knees. Ironically, however, Phoenix is only concerned with not tearing her dress on the fence. Once again, this shows the incredible heart and desire she has to complete her journey. Another use of masterful symbolism is when Phoenix encounters a buzzard. She looks up and says, Who you watching? (801) as if she is telling the buzzard that she is not even close to death or defeat and will not fall victim to it anytime soon.With the courage to move on and with the huge hill tin can her, Phoenix treads on only to stumble upon a swamp make full with alligators. Quietly, she passes unharmed until a black hotdog surprises her. The tiny old woman hits it with her extremely thin cane that only goes tumbling into a ditch. Once again, any elderly human might ordinate up or not even be able to ge t out of the ditch. However, Phoenixs heart is set out to make it to township and back without even thinking twice. She even says to herself, Old woman, that black dog come up out of the weeds to stall you off, and now there he sitting on his fine tail, smiling at you (802).A racist white man then fosters her out of the ditch but continues to insult her with racial comments and even points his gun at her. Phoenix shows her inner strength by staying calm and repaying him by carefully snatching the nickel note that he had dropped. Despite all of these oppressing obstructions, Phoenix makes it into town. It is truly amazing to see how some(prenominal) adversity a person will endure in the name of love. Once Phoenix reaches the hospital, her age greatly shows in her restlessness and forgetfulness of wherefore she even travelled that far.The trips purpose is forgotten because the actions draw been tell so often that Phoenix is able to make the journey just as regular as clockwork ( 804), proving that this is a trip repeated frequently through the dedication of love. The nurses know exactly why she came and give her the medicine saying that its an obstinate case (805). Because the grandsons measure up shows no signs of improvement, the nurses give Phoenix the medicine out of sympathy because she traveled so far. To Phoenix, however, it is the only way to show love to her grandson.She never chooses to give up because the process of obtaining the medicine is just as important as the result. Especially because the grandsons condition is not getting better, a renewed sense of hope arrives when Phoenix obtains more medicine. She wants nothing more than to help her grandsons sore throat subside. It is almost as if Phoenix feels that making this journey is all that she can do for her loved one. Her love, however, does not block off after obtaining the medicine. After one nurse gave Phoenix a nickel in the spirit of Christmas, she takes the two nickels that she now h as to buy her grandson a written report windmill.Phoenixs actions can be classified as large because her sheer determination and love for her grandson is all that motivates her throughout her expedition. A journey filled with such danger could only be endured with love as motivation. The compelling force of love is what continues to hold Phoenix together and helps her to overcome many obstacles despite her old age. As an old senile woman that perseveres through difficult travel and near insanity, Phoenixs character embodies the theme that love is a very influential force in many peoples lives.