Ordinary people encounter challenges that prevent them from achieving their goals, but it is with great determination that they accomplish their goals. assignment. In the short story “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson, the main character, has a mission to accomplish while facing many challenges. One way to convey this idea is to use theme in literature. The theme of a literary work is defined as the central idea, concern, or message about life that an author wishes to convey to his or her readers. There can be several themes in a literary work. One of the major themes of Eudora Welty's short story "A Worn Path" is the determination that Phoenix Jackson conveys through his actions. This short story centers on the challenges faced by an elderly African-American grandmother as she makes her long journey from the isolated pine forests to the nearby town of Natchez in order to obtain necessary medication for her grandson. sick son. It's a journey Phoenix has taken before and now must travel again. She begins her journey on a cold, bright December morning and w...