RR1 - Building Character

In Eudora Welty's " A Worn Path" she uses more than one technique to disclose the main character. In the story we learn much about Phoenix Jackson while observing her journey all the way into town. Many of her actions provide insight about her overall character such as her encounter with a hunter. The hunter pretty much pointed a gun at her within point blank range and she did not flinch or show any sense fear. Considering the bigot hunter seemingly taunted her with the gesture, it convinced me that she was a strong old lady. What also convinced me that she was strong is the the fact she is even attempting such a challenging walk at her age. What makes this old lady seem even more stronger is the way the author describes her appearance which also reveals a little about her economic status.The author states "She carried a thin, small cane made from an umbrella..."  The mere fact that her cane is described as made from an umbrella says much about her economic status. The author also describes her shoes being unlaced which makes me believe how much more of a challenge this old lady is opposing with the long arduous journey to town. The author's use of dialogue made me immediately conclude that the old lady was also poorly educated. We learn she is indeed poorly educated because Phoenix Jackson herself confirms it, but even without the confirmation it can be pointed out immediately. excerpts of dialogue such as " The time getting all gone here" and "my senses is gone. i too old, i the oldest people i ever know" along with other parts reveals her education status and actually made reading the story slightly confusing and difficult. Even though a majority of the story is just about an old lady walking from one place to another accompanied with brief encounters among other people, we learn plentiful details as a result of the way Welty conveyed the character of Phoenix Jackson.