Symbolism in Journey “A Worn Path” and “A Road not Taken”

The symbolism of a journey is represented in the short story “A worn Path” and the poem “The Road Not taken”. In each a journey is being taken. While representing two different types of journeys, they each display symbolism that is representative of each story. In “A Worn Path”, the journey of struggle to overcome racism and in “The Road not Taken” is regret of having to choice between two paths. Using symbolism in each form makes the story and poem more reverent to the reader. The symbolism is like imagery for both the short story and the poem. The short story “A Worn Path” is written by Eudora Welty. The story is set in the south during a time when racial tension was still prevalent. African Americans are just moving out of slavery and into being free. The story tells of the journey of an old woman making the familiar trip to town for medicine for her grandchild. She is met with obstacles, adversity and also with respect. The old woman’s name is Phoenix Jackson. The author takes care not to describe Phoenix as a black woman, but instead describes her with colors that are representation of the mythical creature of the same name. The author description of Phoenix as” her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead, but a golden color ran underneath, and the two knobs of her cheeks were illumined by a yellow burning under the dark” (Clugston, 2010). The mythical creature is described as a golden in color. The symbolism in both the mythical creature and the old woman are that of fire and divinity. Both are a representation of struggle also; the struggle of the old woman to make the journey to town and the struggle of the phoenix to be reborn from ashes. The road itself is symbolic of the