One of the greatest American short stories ever written is The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, written by Katie Porter in the year 1930. An interesting critic claims to reveal the flatness of Porters story. He states that the story is not interesting enough and that the story does not have any plot because nothing really happens. Unfortunately, the critic fails to realize the true essence of the story where illusion and reality in Grannys mind play a major part in the story. Contrary to the critics arguments, The Jilting of Granny Weatherall has a profound plot and theme where Grannys internal conflict touches every readers emotions. In addition, the story presents the importance of revelation and acceptance of weaknesses in finding our inner bliss.
Contrary to what the critic claims, The Jilting of Granny Weatherall has a well organized plot about a jilted womans experiences and emotions. The author presented the story from a different style: stream of consciousness (Bowsher). The sequence of the story is based on Grannys emotion and recollection of her past life when she thought of all the food, clothes and garden she made well the children showed it (Porter, 1032). Furthermore, this style of the presentation lets the reader understand Grannys situation better. The critic thinks that the story was just about a woman on her deathbed. But for sixty years she had prayed against remembering George and against losing her soul in deep pit of hell (Porter, 1033). This statement proves that the plot did not happen in Grannys bedroom alone. She is not merely remembering her heartaches because she has been feeling the agony all throughout her life, for sixty years! Her emotions are magnified so the sequence of the story, although not in chronological order, creates more emotional sense (Demouy). Digging potholes changed a woman (Porter, 1032) corresponds to Grannys bizarre experiences that she claims, made her strong. She continuously suppresses her emotions through working so as not to deal with the pain she is suffering. In the story, the narrator keeps on referring to the significant people in Grannys life based on her memory. The author brings us closer to Grannys way of thinking so that we can understand the feelings attached to every event.
Like other short stories, the theme is complex. The critic obviously does not see the theme of the story because he focuses on the situation that happened on her deathbed. The critic considers the story as just about a dying old lady lying in bed. But if read carefully, the protagonists life comes into focus as she struggles to find peace of mind and happiness. The theme is reflected even in every little details and casual dialogues.
Illusion and reality are the major themes of the story where light represents her real feeling of pain that did not leave her for sixty years (TJGW). From Grannys thoughts, hide the light, sleeping in the light gave me nightmares (Porter, 1033) proves that she is afraid to reveal and admit the pain she still feels. Granny remembers when the light was out her children hurdled up to her and breathed like calvesuntil she lighted the lamps, they move away from her (Porter, 1032). Granny assumes that admitting her pain will drive her children away so she pretends to be strong. She preoccupies herself by working hard to conceal the pain. After remembering the tragedy with George, Granny is still in denial which is reflected in her statement: I swear, he had never harmed me but in that (Porter, 1033). She continuously conceals the truth from others and from herself because she is not ready to accept the unpleasant truth about being jilted. As a result, Granny could not find Hapsy, which represents her happiness and peace of mind. From the story, one can learn that you can fool the world but you cannot fool yourself from your true emotions.
The critic comments that the story is not interesting enough, but quite the opposite is true as the story progresses to climax. Towards the end of the story, Granny faced the light and feels strongly that she will see Hapsy again. Granny finally exposes her wounded feelings and broken heartedness by asking Cornelia to find George and tell him that Granny had forgotten him (Porter,1034). But the truth is that she never did and she knows it. Granny never spoke about George in front of her children before but somehow, exposing her feelings gives her freedom within. The revelation opens the door towards Grannys peace of mind and happiness. She finally realizes her inner peace. Metaphorically, she lives for forty years with kerosene lamps to appreciate honest electricity (Porter, 1035). Grannys attitude changes when she feels very strong and she see Doctor Harry with a rosy nimbus around him (Porter, 1035). Revelation of the truth sets her free and prepares her to see Hapsy. Granny even imagines giving birth to Hapsy, her happiness, right after the revelation. It should have been born first, for it was the one she had truly wanted (Porter, 1034). Granny made a long journey outward, looking for Hapsy (Porter, 1036) but Cornelia assures Granny that she would see Hapsy again (1036). Towards the last paragraph, Granny feels so happy that she could not remember any other sorrow because this grief wiped them all away (Porter, 1036). The grief Granny mentioned is ironic since she had spent so much time preparing for death (Porter, 1031). Furthermore, death may be another tragedy in her life but the tragedy is not unusual since everybody will eventually experience the same tragedy. Granny dies happily with peace of mind she never had for a long time.
Grannys character is not flat and boring like what the critic claims because Granny goes through several character changes throughout the story. In fact, Granny goes through several character changes throughout the story. Not only that her character changes but she also has an illusion of herself which she persistently portrays. She was an ordinary woman before she is jilted. The jilting incident motivates her to act strong concealing her true feelings of pain. Granny claims that Digging potholes changed a woman (Porter, 1032). She convinces herself that the pain has left her and she has forgotten everything, but she is wrong. Granny just conceals her pain like a whirl of dark smoke rose and crept up and over into the bright field where everything was planted so carefully in orderly rows (Porter, 1033). Granny thinks that she has a perfect life but she did not look within herself. Upon the revelation of her pain, it becomes obvious that she is not perfect, but also realizes that she does not have to be perfect either. As an illustration, let us compare Granny from the beginning and the end of the story. Initially, Granny believes that life should be perfect. She used to think that it was good to have everything clean and folded away, with the hair brushes and tonic bottles sitting straight on the white embroidered linen (Porter, 1031). She does not leave room for flaws. But at the end of the story, Granny changes her perspectives. Part of Grannys thoughts read, I meant to do something with the forty acres, Jimmy doesnt need it and Lydia will later on, with that worthless husband of hers.I meant to finish the altar cloth and send six bottles of wine to Sister Borgia for her dyspepsia (Porter, 1036). The worthless husband and dyspepsia Granny mentioned proves that she is finally aware of the imperfections of life. Grannys life may not be perfect but whose life is perfect anyway? The different dimensions in Grannys character throughout the story prove that she has a rounded character.
The critic does not see the big deal about The Jilting of Granny Weatherall because he is not aware of the nature of the modern literary short stories. Short stories focused on the events in greater fullness and emphasize the characters development. Porter successfully brings the reader closer to Grannys mind. The moments are presented in greater detail as if the reader is present to witness the incident. Little things, little things (Porter, 1032) can cause a big difference in bringing us closer on how Granny thinks and feels. Moreover, the story touches our heart and mind as we see Granny represents part of ourselves. All of us have a secret weakness that we cannot afford to expose. The empathy we develop for Granny proves that the story is more than qualified to be an effective short story. Unsurprisingly, the critic does not consider the story a big deal because he misses the emotions involved which is the true essence of Granny Weatheralls story.
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall is more than just a story of Granny but also a story of ourselves. The story is not supposed to be interpreted superficially. In fact, every events and simple dialogues have deeper meanings. The precise development of events that focused on Grannys character corresponds to a modern literary short story. The story is so effective that we can see Granny within ourselves. We have our hidden feelings that we cannot afford to expose because of our fear of rejection. But from the story we learn that revelation and acceptance of our flaws will set us free. Therefore, we can truly find inner peace and happiness.
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