When reading short stories many authors include symbols in their work to make the story have deeper meaning. Short stories are written like journeys, they include many different types of symbols that vary with the time, location, and the names of characters. In Eudora Welty's "The Worn Path" we are introduced to Phoenix Jackson, an elderly lady who is the protagonist of the story. Eudora Welty incorporates many symbols like the physical setting, the path itself, and Phoenix's name to help the readers understand the characteristics of Phoenix Jackson and her lifestyle.

From the beginning of the story we are introduced to the first symbol, "It was December -a bright frozen day in the early morning"(256). December is in the winter and is known to be a cold month where most plant and animal life are non existent or coming to an end. The weather usually describes the...