Do any characters in the story change in significant ways?

s story
is a tribute to the tenacity of the elderly female , Phoenix Jackson, who is present during the
entire action narrated in the story. The only other characters play minor roles; they are the
hunter, the nurse, and the attendant. In addition, Phoenixs grandson is important because he is
the motivator for her actions, but he does not appear in the story; the reader learns about his
existenceand more importantly, his illnessfrom the conversations among the nurse, the attendant,
and Phoenix when she finally arrives at the between.

Phoenix does not change
significantly during the course of the story. Although Welty has made her a static character in
this respect, Phoenix is not a flat character. She carries out her quest with not just
determination but also humor. During the period in which she has been caring for her sick
grandson, before the storys action begins, she haschanged through aging; her physical and mental
health sometimes seem to have declined. Phoenix keeps going and is not hampered for long by the
obstacles she encounters and overcomes; these characteristics indicate that the author intended
for the reader to appreciate and admire the grandmothers dedication to the
boy.