"A Worn Path"

Phoenix's conversations with herself go to emphasize her age by showing that she is slightly dilusional at times because of her elderly age. It also allows the audience to have sympathy for Phoenix because it sets her up to be just a frale, innocent, slightly dillusional old granny. The fact that she talks to herself does make it difficult to decide whether or not she is in the right state of mind. I do not believe that she is in the right state of mind however because along the way she sees, and does things that a person who is thinking normally would not do. This includes dancing with a scarecrow, talking about two-headed snakes, and spacing out completely in the nurses office. Phoenix is able to make this trip not because she is of the right state of mind but because she has done it so many times that it has been commited to memory and she just continues to do it. I still am very unclear as to whether or not the grandson is dead but this could all be part of her state of mind as well.