(no subject)
Samantha Kinnon
English 2, Fonseca
3/26/07
The Character of Granny Weatherall
Throughout Katherine Anne Porters story “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” the readers are given the chance to take a glimpse of the thoughts and emotions of an elderly woman in her final days. The story is a griping and bitter tale of Ellen Weatheralls fragile state of mind and the story acts as a way of explaining a profound moment’s effect on ones entire life. While Granny is laying on her deathbed her entire life begins to flash before her very eyes and we see how certain events, especially those such as the “jilting,” can have a pivotal effect on how her life plays out. It is during these final days that we truly realize her character and how such important and life changing events can disturb ones entire way of being. “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” is a story that can be categorized as being character driven because of the different aspects of Granny’s life and its profounding effect on her.
Granny Weatherall is the elderly sick woman who is the focus of the story. The first particular aspect that we notice about Granny is that even in her final days she proves to be an independent, strong woman. It is clear that the events that she has had to live through have shaped her to be this way; however, it is very apparent, by the way she reacts to the doctor that she is strong willed. She is stern with the doctor and says things such as “leave a well woman alone, I’ll call for you when I want you” (Porter 727), as well as saying, “I pay my own bills and don’t throw my own money away on nonsense” (Porter 727)”. Granny makes it evident that her life and the way it plays out will be on her own terms and she refuses to back down to anyone. As Granny goes in and out of flashbacks of her life we see even more examples outside of her sickness that prove her to be independent and determined when we learn of her younger days of building, cooking and cleaning, when she had everything under control and didn’t need anyone’s help, “She fenced a hundred acres once, digging the post holes herself and clamping the wires with just a negro boy to help. That changed a woman” (Porter 728). Even though she had her entire family to help, she didn’t need and didn’t want the help. No matter how bad it gets she is determined to make it known that she is not a weak person and will always command respect she feels she is entitled. This aspect of Granny’s character is one that is central and a reoccurring theme throughout the story, for we see this determination in her relationships with her children, animals, John and George, as well as the doctor. She wants to assure everyone including herself that her life has been rewarding and she is satisfied with the outcome. However, we see in her final hours, that as much as she appears this way she is consumed with feelings of what is left undone and unsaid. Another example of Granny’s character that is significant is the fact that the entire world as she knows has always been something she was able to control. She kept everything very specific and under control. we see that this behavior is evident from the quote, “Things were finished somehow when the time came; God there was always a little margin over for peace: then a person could spread out the plan of life and tuck the edges in orderly” (Porter 728). She was extremely neat and well kept and wanted her life to be in control. She even went as far as to control her death and we see how she had “spent so much time preparing for death,” by making farewell trips to her grandchildren and children. She made things be understood on her terms, in every aspect except one particular one, her jilting from her love George, and the idea that she was left at the alter with no explanation or closure, it was unexpected and something she was not able to control at all. The jilting was life changing for her and from that point on she was forced to never let herself be that vulnerable again. It was then that she had a turning point to become in control from then on. We see her struggle for control through the whole story until the relinquishing end where she looses control over her mind and emotions she was trying so hard to retrain. It is clear when we read, “Granny lay curled down within herself, amazed and watchful, staring at the point of light that was herself; her body was now only a deeper mass of shadow in and endless darkness and this darkness would curl around the light and swallow it up. God give me a sign!” (Porter 733) This only reiterates the fact that as much as she struggled to control the emotional holes she thought were filled, there was no way she would be able to and she couldn’t control herself as she was dying.
The final idea that emphasizes the “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” is a story that can be categorized as being based on character, is the specific and life changing event that Granny had to overcome. In her relationships Granny is either deceived or disappointed. George, her true love, stood her up at the altar and was never heard from again. After this, her character was forced to become a stronger person and she tries to convince everyone including herself that she has put the issue to rest. We realize this after she tries to convince her children to find George, “I want you to find George. Find him and be sure to tell him I forgot him. I want him to know I had my husband just the same and my children and my house like any other woman” (Porter 731). As much as she claims that this is something that has passed over, she compared the agony that George has put her through to that of childbirth and we understand the physical pain that the past is bringing to her, “her breath crowded down under her ribs and grew into a monstrous frightening shape with cutting edges; it bored up into her head and the agony was unbelievable (Porter 731).” Granny’s death came at a normal time in ones life, and it should have been easy, however she is so affected by George that she is not at peace and Is not prepared to let death come so soon.
The “Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” is the story of an emotional rollercoaster of Granny. The story is a clear example of one that is character based, because we are constantly observing Granny’s up’s and down’s and taking a deep look into her life and its outcome. We understand that such pivotal moments in ones life are the things that shape them into the people they eventually become, and no matter how much someone thinks they can overcome the worst, we must remember we are all humans and endure heartache and agony. Granny’s story is one of bitterness and struggle and we learn that she constantly is dealing with it to death.
English 2, Fonseca
3/26/07
The Character of Granny Weatherall
Throughout Katherine Anne Porters story “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” the readers are given the chance to take a glimpse of the thoughts and emotions of an elderly woman in her final days. The story is a griping and bitter tale of Ellen Weatheralls fragile state of mind and the story acts as a way of explaining a profound moment’s effect on ones entire life. While Granny is laying on her deathbed her entire life begins to flash before her very eyes and we see how certain events, especially those such as the “jilting,” can have a pivotal effect on how her life plays out. It is during these final days that we truly realize her character and how such important and life changing events can disturb ones entire way of being. “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” is a story that can be categorized as being character driven because of the different aspects of Granny’s life and its profounding effect on her.
Granny Weatherall is the elderly sick woman who is the focus of the story. The first particular aspect that we notice about Granny is that even in her final days she proves to be an independent, strong woman. It is clear that the events that she has had to live through have shaped her to be this way; however, it is very apparent, by the way she reacts to the doctor that she is strong willed. She is stern with the doctor and says things such as “leave a well woman alone, I’ll call for you when I want you” (Porter 727), as well as saying, “I pay my own bills and don’t throw my own money away on nonsense” (Porter 727)”. Granny makes it evident that her life and the way it plays out will be on her own terms and she refuses to back down to anyone. As Granny goes in and out of flashbacks of her life we see even more examples outside of her sickness that prove her to be independent and determined when we learn of her younger days of building, cooking and cleaning, when she had everything under control and didn’t need anyone’s help, “She fenced a hundred acres once, digging the post holes herself and clamping the wires with just a negro boy to help. That changed a woman” (Porter 728). Even though she had her entire family to help, she didn’t need and didn’t want the help. No matter how bad it gets she is determined to make it known that she is not a weak person and will always command respect she feels she is entitled. This aspect of Granny’s character is one that is central and a reoccurring theme throughout the story, for we see this determination in her relationships with her children, animals, John and George, as well as the doctor. She wants to assure everyone including herself that her life has been rewarding and she is satisfied with the outcome. However, we see in her final hours, that as much as she appears this way she is consumed with feelings of what is left undone and unsaid. Another example of Granny’s character that is significant is the fact that the entire world as she knows has always been something she was able to control. She kept everything very specific and under control. we see that this behavior is evident from the quote, “Things were finished somehow when the time came; God there was always a little margin over for peace: then a person could spread out the plan of life and tuck the edges in orderly” (Porter 728). She was extremely neat and well kept and wanted her life to be in control. She even went as far as to control her death and we see how she had “spent so much time preparing for death,” by making farewell trips to her grandchildren and children. She made things be understood on her terms, in every aspect except one particular one, her jilting from her love George, and the idea that she was left at the alter with no explanation or closure, it was unexpected and something she was not able to control at all. The jilting was life changing for her and from that point on she was forced to never let herself be that vulnerable again. It was then that she had a turning point to become in control from then on. We see her struggle for control through the whole story until the relinquishing end where she looses control over her mind and emotions she was trying so hard to retrain. It is clear when we read, “Granny lay curled down within herself, amazed and watchful, staring at the point of light that was herself; her body was now only a deeper mass of shadow in and endless darkness and this darkness would curl around the light and swallow it up. God give me a sign!” (Porter 733) This only reiterates the fact that as much as she struggled to control the emotional holes she thought were filled, there was no way she would be able to and she couldn’t control herself as she was dying.
The final idea that emphasizes the “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” is a story that can be categorized as being based on character, is the specific and life changing event that Granny had to overcome. In her relationships Granny is either deceived or disappointed. George, her true love, stood her up at the altar and was never heard from again. After this, her character was forced to become a stronger person and she tries to convince everyone including herself that she has put the issue to rest. We realize this after she tries to convince her children to find George, “I want you to find George. Find him and be sure to tell him I forgot him. I want him to know I had my husband just the same and my children and my house like any other woman” (Porter 731). As much as she claims that this is something that has passed over, she compared the agony that George has put her through to that of childbirth and we understand the physical pain that the past is bringing to her, “her breath crowded down under her ribs and grew into a monstrous frightening shape with cutting edges; it bored up into her head and the agony was unbelievable (Porter 731).” Granny’s death came at a normal time in ones life, and it should have been easy, however she is so affected by George that she is not at peace and Is not prepared to let death come so soon.
The “Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” is the story of an emotional rollercoaster of Granny. The story is a clear example of one that is character based, because we are constantly observing Granny’s up’s and down’s and taking a deep look into her life and its outcome. We understand that such pivotal moments in ones life are the things that shape them into the people they eventually become, and no matter how much someone thinks they can overcome the worst, we must remember we are all humans and endure heartache and agony. Granny’s story is one of bitterness and struggle and we learn that she constantly is dealing with it to death.