Phoenix does
demonstrate tremendous heroism without being aware of it. She doesn't think of herself as being
brave. She is just doing what she must do to take care of her little grandson, and she has done
it many times. Her path to town is "worn," suggesting that she has traveled it many
times.
Phoenix faces great danger making her trip to town. She is very old
and frail and almost blind. The weather is cold because it is December, hard winter. Phoenix
climbs a hill, makes her way through briars, climbs through a fence, and crosses a stream by
walking on a log fallen over the water. If she had fallen into the stream, she would have frozen
to death. When she falls in a ditch after the hunter's dog comes after her, the hunter has to
help her up. She cannot get to her feet by herself and would have died there without his
help.
When Phoenix gets to town, she is treated very hatefully by one of the
women in the doctor's office. Phoenix swallows her pride and ignores the woman's insults so that
she can get what she came for--her grandson's medicine. That took courage, also. Phoenix is
very heroic; she risks her life and sacrifices her pride for one she
loves.
No comments:
Post a Comment