Throughout their lives, men and women have always struggled. From the early days to the present day. At that time, there was a lot of literature on how to survive life's trials; nevertheless, some great literary works that express triumph are “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty and “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay. In “A Worn Path”, the journey is expressed to show the journey of a courageous woman. “If We Must Die” encourages us to keep fighting even if we are going to lose the battle. These works of art can motivate anyone to keep going through the difficult times in our lives. In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, an elderly woman goes through an ordeal for the common good. Mrs. Phoenix Jackson takes a journey most people wouldn't take to save her grandson's life. Rachel Lister, author of Literary Context in Short Stories Collections: Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path,' explains what kind of person Phoenix is: "[A] woman [who] makes her way through a wood on a mission to help the afflicted” (par. 5). She goes through obstacles to reach her destination: she is attacked by a black dog, she crosses a barbed wire fence, she meets a white hunter, etc. Rachel Lister suggests: “She faces a series of challenges and temptations” (paragraph 5). Nevertheless, she has ambitions to complete her journey, even if it is a cold winter day. “A Worn Path” is full of symbolism. Rachel Lister states: “The chains…, the thorns, and the barbed wire symbolize the continued oppression that restricts the social mobility of African American people in the South” (para. 5). Ms. Phoenix is ​​just not a character but she is a symbol of hope. His character is depicted as a Christ-like figure. She goes through these trials to save her grandson from death ... middle of paper ... he fights with men, but we know that these two stories have a very clear message. Both of these stories are about saving lives in one way or another. They both overcome obstacles and emerge on the winning side even if that side is death. Additionally, they continue the legacy that Jesus left behind by attempting to ascend to higher dimensions. The struggles of these characters can give hope to anyone who understands the depth of each story. Works Cited Heglar, Charles J. Claude Mckay's "If We Must Die", Home To Harlem, and The Hog Trope. Anq 8.3 (1995): 22. Literary reference center. Internet. April 21, 2014.Lister, Rachel. “Literary Contexts in Short Stories: “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty; Understanding literature - Literary contexts in collections; 2007, p1, 1p. Literary reference center. Internet. April 21, 2014. “If We Must Die.” Schmoop.com. Internet. April 21. 2014.