A Long Journey Filled with ImagesThe story “A Worn Path” is filled with beautiful images of the journey of 'an old woman to get medicine for her grandson. At first reading, the story seems relatively simple. The story doesn't take on a broader meaning until it's reread repeatedly, then things that someone might never have noticed initially begin to emerge. Just as the journey that Miss Phoenix takes to reach the city may represent more than a long walk in the forest, this path may represent her life as a slave and her journey to freedom. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First, Eudora Welty uses a thorn bush to form a giant metaphor for slavery and how it held people captive. Phoenix's path begins simply enough, but soon an obstacle presents itself that could very well be related to her previous life as a slave. This obstacle is the thorny bush, which she mistakes for an ordinary bush, in her path and takes no precautions when crossing it. Soon she learns that the bush is full of thorns and gets tangled in her grip. While trying to untangle herself, she keeps finding herself trapped but is unwilling to rip her skirt to free herself. The thorn bush and its tangle represent his imprisonment in slavery before his release. After all, as a slave, she was caught in the grip of her social status imposed on her, and even if she tried to free herself from it in various ways, something else would come and catch up with her. Just like the thorn bush that keeps getting tangled in her skirt. Yet what is most interesting about her interaction with the thorn bush is her reluctance to tear her dress. Which could very well have something to do with the fact that she doesn't want to do much harm to herself to be freed from slavery. After all, there were slaves who would give their lives for a taste of freedom, but Phoenix doesn't seem to be that type. Instead, she cherishes her life and takes her time knowing that she will eventually be free. Next, Welty uses the setting itself of a fence and some dark trees to create the image of slaves trapped within the confines of their master's property. Phoenix must quickly pass under the fence to avoid getting caught before coming across a forest of dark trees and a vulture watching. Of the two, the fence perhaps has the most obvious connotation with Phoenix's slave past. After all, if she tried to escape, she would have to go under fences and down difficult paths to finally be free. And if she got caught, she would be horribly punished, just as she might be for crossing a stranger's fence if she were ever caught. Phoenix even mentions that she could lose an arm or a leg if she's not careful and gets caught, which would most likely happen to some extent if she was caught escaping as a slave. Although that's not the only closure at that point that ties into his past. There is also the forest that she sees once she gets out from under the fence. Miss Phoenix describes the trees as “great dead trees, like black men with one arm” (Welty, 315). These trees most likely represent his fellow slaves and the description almost seems to conjure up images of time-worn black men. Then there is the vulture perched on one of the trees who seems to watch over everything. The vulture evokes the image of a guardian of slaves watching over.