picion of Phoenixs extremepoverty... (Magill, 2432). This scene proves to thereader Phoenix is not very high class. She isautomatically assumed to be a charity case and thenasked what was wrong with her, implying she does notlook very good. Aldridge writes, [In Weltysstories] [t]here are members of racial minorities, theeconomically oppressed, shut-ins, and variousindividuals in the grip of social forces... In thebeautiful story, A Worn Path, the nurse at theclinic becomes aware of a barrier ... of which she isunable to explain, between herself and Grandma, an oldNegro woman(507). This barrier between them is asocial barrier that alienates Phoenix from theattendants. Phoenix being from a lower classalienates her from the attendants.Age and class alienate Phoenix from herself. Thetrip through the woods was not an easy task forPhoenix. Phoenix says, Seems like there is chainsabout my feet, time I get this far (Welty, 213). Shehas a hard time making this trip due to her age.Magill writes, The frail old woman, called Phoenix,travels slowly and painfully through a sometimeshostile landscape... (2432) Phoenixs age prohibitsher from easily making her journey that is so dear toher through the woods. The trip makes her so tiredshe forgets the point of the whole trip. As she getsto the doctors office a fixed and ceremonialstiffness came over her body (Welty, 216). Finallythe light flickers on and Phoenix remembers why shemade the journey into town. Her memory is slowlyfading with her age. Class and age alienate Phoenixfrom herself.In Phoenixs encounter with the hunter, trip into thewoods and to the doctors office, and memory loss ,age and class alienate her from society....
