The start of the journey finds Phoenix in a fragile state as illustrated by the quote, "She walked. . . . with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grandfather clock." This quote demonstrates the beginning of the contradictions in Phoenix's gait. Using the terms heavy and light to describe her stride, shows an inconsistency from the start of her journey. She is too feeble to tie her shoes yet, she takes pride in her appearance. An allusion is made to the strength and weakness that lives within this woman. Her weakness coming from age. Her strength coming from love.

Once inside the building she climbs a "tower" of steps, only to arrive at the office with "a fixed and ceremonial stance." Her stance is an indication that she feels ill at ease in the office but is willing to do it for the boy. She stands up straight and faces the obstacle, this time in an attendant who is demeaning and rude. Phoenix stands with power and strength. In the office she sat " . . . silent, erect, and motionless, just as if she were in armor." In fact, her armor is her stance. The armor being referred to is the appearance of strength. Phoenix is uncomfortable there yet, she maintains her strength, because the boy needs his medicine. Although she is weak, she is strong. A contradiction of how she feels to how she appears is obvious.

Phoenix comes up against another conflict of self in a hunter. The hunter presents a conflict of morals and values. The possibility that this man might hurt her and then she could not return to the boy is evident. "She stood straight and faced him" (the man with the gun). Standing "straight" and powerful she faces this man with a weapon. The implication is a woman of power, not of age and neglects, as implied in the beginnings of the story. When the hunter drops a nickel she must decide what is more right, to take the nickel and "steal"or not: To have the nickel for the boy or not. She decides to take the nickel; again strength emerges. ". . . she was slowly bending forward by that time, further and further forward . . ." 'Her chin was lowered almost to her knees' " she could do this for the nickel but not for her laces on her shoes . . . She could do this for the boy but not for herself.

movements symbolize a trepidation to enter the building. Phoenix does not want to enter, but must enter to obtain her grandson's medicine. She is again conflicted, and her gait mimics that conflict.

When another difficult situation to maneuver appears and Phoenix is faced with a barb wire, she is described as ". . . a baby trying to climb steps." The image of a chil

Some common words found in the essay are:
Path Wetley, Worn Path, , Phoenix Jackson, ultimate goal, worn path, start journey, conflict self, tie shoes, phoenix's gait, strength weakness, rose carefully, held hand, strength phoenix,
Approximate Word count = 1369
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)