Phoenix travels long and hard. She gets caught in thorns and crosses over bridges that almost take her life. She dances with death (the scarecrow). Even though she gets to where she wants to go, she is still seen as useless and a nuisance. Phoenix goes through great lengths to obtain the medicine that will allow her grandson to live a life.
"A Worn Path" displays how the world treats the elderly and love itself. The man, that Phoenix meets on the road, explains he has no money to give to Phoenix yet a coin has just dropped out of his pocket. The old woman was not worthy of the money. After all she is just a "granny" keeled over in a ditch. The man with the gun just sees a foolish woman traveling a tattered path. So much of the world views the older generations as stuck in their own ways or old fashioned. Even though Phoenix walks the same road over and over again she does it for a purpose. It's the only way she knows. When Phoenix finally reaches the hospital she is given a coin out of charity. The nurses don't understand why she would walk this whole way in her condition. Phoenix understands the true meaning of love. In today's culture, love is too easy, too simple. After a few months of a relationship, "I love you" comes out. Phoenix understands the true love of sacrifice and struggle. She travels until her fragile body cannot go any further. Love isn't easy, it is a worn and hardened path. The ultimate love has no limits.
Way to contrast love to the culture of today! Weird, huh, how different love can seem?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how people's stereotypes of others, or their physical judgments of others, can overshadow ultimate love. Also interesting was your description of love today, which seems vastly different from the love that Phoenix has for her grandson. Love is easy to receive, and can often be frivolous, but real love is hard and it takes a strong person to give that 'ultimate love' to another. I like how your writing compasses all of this.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Lexi. Glad you can see what's wrong with love in today's culture. Keep yourself for that special someone God has in store for you. Love, Gran
ReplyDeleteThere are profound differences between the infatuation like the boy in "Araby" and the love demonstrated by Phoenix in "A Worn Path." Your post highlights modern society's emphasis on infatuation rather than love. This is likely why relationships fail, leaving unrealistic expectations burning in their eyes.
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