Skip to main content

In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, how does the hunter address Phoenix?

First, the hunter calls Phoenix "Granny." She is very old and this might have been a term of endearment. But given the hunter's overall treatment of Phoenix, the term "Granny" is probably intended with condescension. He does help her up, but he also belittles her. He treats her like a child: 


I know you old colored people! Wouldn't miss going to town to see Santa Claus! 


In his ignorance, he assumes she is simple-minded. It...

First, the hunter calls Phoenix "Granny." She is very old and this might have been a term of endearment. But given the hunter's overall treatment of Phoenix, the term "Granny" is probably intended with condescension. He does help her up, but he also belittles her. He treats her like a child: 



I know you old colored people! Wouldn't miss going to town to see Santa Claus! 



In his ignorance, he assumes she is simple-minded. It would never occur to him that she is a clever, determined individual. Phoenix manages to steal a nickel that falls out of his pocket. When he points the gun in her face, she is stoic and shows her courage. He then lies and says he'd give her some money if he had any. Everything about the hunter's behavior with Phoenix shows his pathetic attempts to assert his superiority. He helps her up but treats her like a child. He pointlessly aims his gun at her to test his ability to intimidate. His rudeness is based upon racism and ignorance. Phoenix treats this like the any other hindrance on her journey: just another obstacle to overcome. 

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more