In Eudora Welty's story "A Worn Path," the character Phoenix Jackson is an old woman who makes a yearly journey into town. Along the way, she encounters animals, dangerous roads, and a white hunter. Although we don't know how old Phoenix is, we can assume she is probably close to 100. As she walks along the path, she talks to herself through tough spots in the road: "Up through the pines," and "Now down through the oaks." She also asks a scarecrow, "Who you watching?" Phoenix may talk to herself because she is old or becoming senile; she may also talk to herself because she is lonely. However, the main reason she talks to herself is to help get through the journey she makes--it helps her navigate the wilderness as she makes the trip on her own.
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