The Jilting Of Granny Weatherall By Katherine

Porter Essay, Research Paper

In the story, “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”, written by Katherine Porter, Granny Weatherall is a character of depth. Her name is synomonous with her character. Three main qualities of her character are her strength, her endurance, and her vulnerability.

Her strength is not so much physical but mental. She lies upon her bed contemplating all that she needs to do. Her daughter Cornelia does not even come close to handling affairs as well as she does in her own mind. In addition, she tell the Doctor “Leave a well women alone…I’ll call you when I need you.” She does not like the patronizing position that she finds herself in. The fact that she has already avoided death once seems to add to her image of strength.

As we follow her mental ramblings we obtain insight to her character as a woman that has endured heartache as well as hardship. She has managed to survive the lost of a child as well as being left at the alter – twice.

However, when we realize that Death has come to visit Granny Weatherall she is left vulnerable to an issue that is not up for discussion. She states also that she needs to burn her letters so as not to appear sensitive to her children in the event that they should read them. The entire setting also depicts Granny as vulnerable and in need of assistance.