Symbolism in Kate Chopin's "Story Essay

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This occurrence adds symbolism to the ending by providing us with reassurance of the story's theme that despite any precaution taken, death is the one thing that cannot be planned for.

2.)

Symbolism is highly present in Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path." It is this strong symbolism that defines what "A Worn Path" grew to represent. This story may be interpreted in many ways, but in the end, it all comes down to the theme of self-sacrifice despite the hardships presented. Phoenix sacrifices her sanity, her life, and demonstrates utter determination when she is on her path to get medicine for her dying grandson. The items that demonstrate this symbolism go far beyond individual interpretation.

The character's name itself provides great symbolism to relate to the theme of the story. "Phoenix" represents an Egyptian bird that symbolizes resurrection. Throughout the entire story, Phoenix is her grandson's savior. She needs to go through it all in order to allow her grandchild to survive, to rise from a state of inevitable death. Another symbolic token is nature. Nature is around her and cannot be avoided, and although it is beautiful at times, nature itself provides Phoenix with physical obstacles, such as fencing wire and bushes, that she must overcome to in order to fulfill her journey.

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Another obstacle that takes on its own symbolic meaning is that of racism. Along her path Phoenix encounters a white man from whom she ends up taking a nickle from. Her exposure along the path she has taken is to the outside world, that during that time period represents so much more than nature; it represents exposure to a racially segregated and black-hating world. Despite this danger, she risks and sacrifices herself for her grandson.

Symbolism runs even higher when the time setting is taken into consideration. The timing of her journey is during the Christmas season. Taking this journey on during this specific time, adds on to the self-sacrificing theme that this story takes on. Just as in the Christian religion, the main character is sacrificing her own well-being for the well-being of those who mean most to her. The overall title of this short story, "A Worn Path," itself has symbolism about the entire journey that she is going through. She goes along this path, this worn path, where she encounters all of the obstacles that she eventually overcomes. She masters this path, in an unknown environment, filled with physical and societal dangers, yet she prevails in order to guarantee that her grandson….....

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