Comparative Essay: A Worth Path by Eudora Welty and Then Later His Ghost by Sarah Hall

While reading both “A Worth Path” by Eudora Welty and “Then Later His Ghost” by Sarah Hall, I was immediately confused at the beginning of each story but was oddly intrigued as I continued to read. In both short stories not a lot of worlds building so jumping into each story was jarring since each story is remarkably similar but also vastly different, especially in the worlds. Though in this essay, I will tackle the issues of fact of each short story such as the similarity of not really knowing where each story is taking place, and not truly knowing the ages of the main character. On the other hand, though where both short stories differ would have to be when it comes to the ending of these stories. Each of these short stories carries a sense of a somber air and yet also carries a cheerful air as well. 

In both “A Worth Path” and “Then Later His Ghost” the issue of fact would have to be the world we are thrown into especially regarding these stories. In “A Worth Path” it first starts with our main character walking through fields and bushes and almost nothing else is described for the first portion of the story. As an example, it is shown in “A Worth Path” by Eudora Welty in paragraph 4 “On she went. The woods were deep and still. The sun made the pine needles too bright to look at, up where the wind rocked. The cones dropped as light as feathers.” It is also a similar case for “Then Later His Ghost” In the first half of the story it is revealed that the main character lives in a rundown house in the middle of December but nothing else is mentioned until later in the story. It is shown in the “Then Later His Ghost” by Sarah Hall in paragraph 5 “When it came from the east a lot of the remaining house roofs went, and whole walls could topple -- another reason not to stay inside too much. You had to be alert to the collapses.” As we continue reading in both stories it is shown that both worlds have more than is let on in the beginning. Regarding “A Worth Path” and “Then Later His Ghost” a reader can insinuate that the world that being established would be set in a different time from modern day technology but for each story it is not the case. 

Another issue of fact shown in both “A Worth Path” and “Then Later His Ghost” is not truly knowing the ages of our main characters. In “A Worth Path” we know our character is old but as referenced in the story our character is old enough to have a sort of dementia. As referenced in “A Worth Path” by Eudora Welty paragraph 15 “'My grandson. It was my memory that had left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip.'.” In the case of “Then Later His Ghost” the main character talks about missing his mother and little brother Another instance is when the main character spoke about how their roommate who is thirty to forty was an English teacher but was not their English teacher. As shown in “Then Later His Ghost” in Paragraph 7 “She'd been an English teacher, though not his”. In both stories we are given an estimate of the main character ages, but it is heavily insinuated. 

In the previous two paragraphs it was mentioned the similarities between the two short stories but for this paragraph we will tackle the difference between both stories and that is the ending for both. The issue of fact in these stories is how it ends for “A Worn Path” towards the end it is heavily implied that the main character has dementia and now must walk back home. To reference in “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty in the last paragraph ““‘I'll march myself back where he waiting, holding it straight up in this hand.'” She lifted her free hand, gave a little nod, turned around, and walked out of the doctor's office. Then her slow step began on the stairs, going down.” Compared to “Then Later His Ghost” where the main character is young and extremely cautious and is heading home to be with the other side character. To reference in “Then Later His Ghost” by Sarah Hall in paragraph 16 “He didn't want to leave Helene alone longer than he had to. She might be having the baby. He would come back, after Christmas, and search properly.” In this ending the main character is being cautious and shown in the short story is very capable. The problem with the facts is that their story ends very publicly “A Worn Path” leaves us to insinuate that they will probably go home alone if they even remember where home is while “Then Later His Ghost” it is inferred that they will go back to celebrate Christmas with their roommate. 

These two short stories were striking similar but also extremely different. Both short stories had issues of fact whether it came to not knowing where the story is taking place or not knowing the ages of the main characters while the difference between the short stories is the ending for both movies.