Social Discrimination In A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

In a world that is so diverse, social discrimination is an issue that many have to face everyday. Discrimination can be used by an individuals: race, age, religion, and even ones class. A Worn Path, written by Eudora Welty is about a woman by the name of Phoenix who goes on a long journey to get medication for her grandson. On her journey she comes in contact with a hunter, and many other complications. In the short story, an overall theme of social discrimination is shown through the use of Racism, Ageism and Classism. During the 1930’s, Racism was at a major play; mostly in Southern states. In the short story, Welty gives many examples of metaphors and symbols showing that racism was a major impact during this time. For example, â€Å"Big†¦show more content†¦This is known as ageism. Welty shows an example of ageism in this quote, â€Å"‘Doesn’t the gun scare you?’ he said still pointing it. ‘No, Sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done.’ She said, holding utterly still. He smiled, and shoulder the gun. ‘Well, Granny,’ he said ‘you must be a hundred years old, and scared of nothing. I’d give you a dime if I had any money with me. But you take my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you.’† (1330) The hunter is stating that she is too old to be taking such a long journey, especially by herself; even if she is not afraid of anything. This is a good example of a pe rson using someone’s age against them. Welty is giving the reader the impression of, who is this hunting man, to tell her she should just go home, instead of continuing her journey to find medicine for her grandson. As well as the impression of, no matter what age someone, anyone can finish something he or she put’s his or her mind to. The third factor in reaching the theme of social discrimination is the use of classism. As defined from the Merriam Webster Dictionary, Classism means: Prejudice or discrimination based on class. Throughout the short story you get a feel for the class, that Old Phoenix is a part of. Throughout her long journey, she makes references to slavery through the use of metaphors,Show MoreRelatedRacism And Discrimination : A Worn Path By Eudora Welty Essay1746 Words   |  7 PagesRacism and Discrimination Issues Essay People in society are like crayons in a box; some are sharp and beautiful, some have weird names but all are in different colors; but they have to learn to live in the same box. Every day, many people encounter other people, creating many social issues and racism is one of them. Racism is one of the most controversial problem in our society. This is the ideal that many people engage in consciously and the way some people think without even realizing it. RacismRead MoreEudora Welty s A Worn Path956 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction James Saunders wrote an interesting article â€Å"’A Worn Path’ The Eternal Quest of Welty’s Phoenix Jackson† (The Southern Literary Journal 25.1, Fall 1992: p62-73.) that not only analyzed Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† (The Collected Works of Eudora Welty) from his perspective but also included the perspectives of other authors which makes his article an excellent source for interpretations of ‘A Worn Path’. Summary Saunders article summarizes Phoenix Jackson as a symbol of the ChristianRead MoreA Worn Path By Eudora Welty1707 Words   |  7 PagesMichelle Andrews Dr. Goss ENGLISH 1102 9 February 2016 A Worn Path In the Eudora Welty’s ‘‘A Worn Path’’, there is a distinct description of characters that live in the era of segregation and the great depression. Because Welty is a native of the south, this story is based from the experiences during her life. Her struggles are relived in the characters of not just â€Å"A Worn Path† but also a lot of her other stories. She uses hidden messages in her stories and includes deep meaning in the simplestRead MoreAnalyzing ‚Äà ºA Worn Path‚Äà ¹ by Eudora Welty - 1875 Words   |  4 PagesAnalyzing â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty In the story â€Å"A Worn Path†, Eudora Welty shows an old woman living in a time period where racial prejudice is very high and out of control. Phoenix Jackson is a grandmother whose motivation for living seems to be to nurture her grandson back to health. The strength of love may make people do or say unusual and implausible things. The central idea of this story is that love can empower someone to overcome many life threatening obstacles. This idea isRead MorePerspectives on Hope: Eudora Weltys A Worn Path, and Maya Angelous Still I Rise1594 Words   |  7 Pages The emotion of hope is important because life is uncertain. Factors such as wealth, education and opportunity may play a role in dividing people into different social categories, but no amount of privilege or advantage can shield a person from disappointment, pain, loss or death. These are universal adversities for all humankind. The word hope can be defined in different ways. Many religious people think of ho pe as a virtue, along with faith and love. Survivors of trauma often credit hope as theRead MoreDiscrimination : Discrimination And Discrimination1788 Words   |  8 PagesDiscrimination has played a role in humanity from the beginnings of human existence to the modern societies of today. Every individual has experienced an act of discrimination at some point; yet, most questions surrounding this fundamental human flaw remain unanswered. One belief that has overwhelming support is the fact that discrimination can lead to significant negative effects. These effects mediate how an individual is able or unable to deal with discrimination. Thus, the discussion of discrimination