I found the song “War” reminded me
of how Phoenix Jackson felt about her grandson and the hope and drive that it
instilled in her to go so far out of her way to get to town in the short story,
A Worn Path. She faced bigotry on her
path and wasn’t intimidated; I believe because of what might become of her
grandson (as we don’t know whether or not he is still alive). Throughout her
journey she is always caught up in her memories.
The
lyrics are not an exact match to the event of the story because they describe a
person fighting war whether physical or emotional and the only thing holding
that person together was the compassion of another. Although this is a love
song, love and hope go hand in hand. If the person didn’t have this significant
other to love and fight for, to instill hope in, he more than likely wouldn’t
have had survived the battle. “When I
thought that I fought this war alone. You were there by my side on the
frontline. When I thought that I fought without a cause. You gave me a reason
to try.”
This
directly correlates with how Phoenix had to continuously remind herself of her
mission through reflecting on her memories. It was her love for her grandson
and hope that everything will be okay that got her through her trek.
The
song ends with the following lyrics: “So
will you please show me your real face. Draw the line in the horizon. ‘Cause I
only need your name to call the reasons why I fought. When I thought I fought
this war alone” Meaning that the person held on to someone he never really
knew and needs to have his hop reinvigorated. A person that may not have even
existed. In some cases, soldiers will stumble upon a picture on the battlefield
and attach to it hoping that they will meet them one day. Even if they may
never know if they are still alive. This is could be why Phoenix is constantly on
the move; not wanting to admit the fact that her grandson may have died and
been dead along. She’s trying to hold on to hope just as the person in lyrics
just wants to know the other person’s name. To know that it wasn’t a false
hope.
Using a song to depict the connection between “War” and “A Worn Path” is very original and thoughtful. It allow readers to view the story through a different lens where the grandmother’s determination and actions is viewed as a sense of strength. Also, the love theme from the song represents the sentimental emotions that the grandmother feels for her sick grandson. She was determine to find any means to assist him, even it means to endure humiliation. Just like the song describes the soldiers fighting in a war, the grandmother is also concurring her own struggles by rising above petty ignorance from society, this appeared when the white hunter threatened to shoot her.
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