COMPare the themes of both short story,THE

UNICORN IN THE GARDEN BY James Thurber AND

A WORN PATHby

Eudora Welty

THEMES

THE WORN PATH

Race and Racism– No one in the story is actually rude or discriminatory

towards Phoenix, but the subtle persecutions that blacks suffer in a white world is clearly shown.• Example: A white hunter helps her out of a ditch but

patronizes her and trivializes her journey: "I know you old colored people! Wouldn't miss going to town to see Santa Claus!"

• He taunts her by pointing his loaded gun at her and asking, "Doesn't the gun scare you?“

• These are the typical views of many Southern whites during the era.

THEME

UNICORN IN THE GARDEN

The struggle between the husband and wife pits peaceful fantasy (the man) vs. harsh realism (the woman)

Example: The husband stakes claim to the realistic answers expected by the psychiatrist and the police after the wife ironically repeats the husband's earlier fantastic claims.

Duty and Responsibility• Phoenix Jackson makes the journey to town because

of her sense of duty to her grandson. – She is the only person her grandson has to rely on—"We is

the only two left in the world," she tells the nurse.

• Her sense of responsibility makes her determined to overcome all the obstacles during the journey.– Phoenix relates her determination with a sense of urgency

to the hunter: she tells the hunter: "I bound to go to town, mister.... The time come around."

• The nurse has a duty and a responsibility to keep giving Phoenix the medicine as long as she keeps coming to get it. – "the doctor said as long as you came to get it, you could

have it. But it's an obstinate case."

• The attendant gives Phoenix a nickel out of a sense of duty because it is Christmas.

• The hunter and the young woman on the street who help Phoenix also act out of duty, not out of compassion or love.

SIMILARITY SARCASM

Unicorn in the Garden

• Example: The wife uses harsh and sarcastic words whenever her husband tries to explain about the unicorn.

"You are a booby," she said, "and I am going to have you put in a booby-hatch

The Worn Path

• Example:Eventhough the hunter helps Phoenix , he stil acts rude towards her.

He taunts her by pointing his loaded gun at her and asking, "Doesn't the gun scare you?“

DIFFERENCEDuty and ResponsibilityUnicorn in the Garden

• Example: The husband has to prepare his own breakfast and the wife is still sleeping.

The Worn Path

• Example: Phoenix is very responsible .She always concern about her grandson.

THE END