The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1929

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Themes

Denial and the Human Tendency to Avoid Painful Truths

Denial is a central theme of the story. Granny Weatherall is characterized by her tendency to deny and repress painful memories, emotions, and realities. Porter suggests that this avoidance of painful truths is ultimately futile and stands in the way of Granny reaching a point of acceptance regarding the events of her life and her impending death.

Granny’s denial is immediately evident in her interactions with her family and the doctor attending to her. Refusing to acknowledge her deteriorating health and the reality of her impending death, she insists, “There’s nothing wrong with me” (Paragraph 1). Granny’s denial is a way for her to maintain a sense of control and independence, even in the face of her mortality. It is an attempt to deny vulnerability and maintain her identity as a strong, self-reliant woman. Granny denies her own need for support and companionship, preferring to maintain a facade of strength and self-sufficiency. She resents Cornelia’s attempts to care for her and sees it as an intrusion on her autonomy.

Throughout the narrative, Granny’s denial manifests in her attempts to push away unwelcome memories. However, these painful truths still intrude on her consciousness. The narrative signals their arrival via imagery of black smoke or fog. A key example of Granny’s denial is her refusal to confront the jilting incident from her past. The memory of being abandoned by her fiancé, George, on their wedding day haunts Granny. Although she tries to forget, thoughts of George are like “a smoky cloud from hell that moved and crept in her head” (Paragraph 28). This denial of past emotional pain is a defense mechanism to protect herself from reliving the hurt and disappointment. Another painful incident Granny tries to forget is the death of her daughter Hapsy. Hapsy looms large in her mind and memories, but Granny does not directly acknowledge her daughter is dead. Her only reference to Hapsy’s death occurs when, reflecting on raising her children alone, she asserts “I hardly ever lost one of them!” (Paragraph 25). The “hardly” is an oblique nod to the loss of Hapsy.

The theme of denial highlights the human tendency to avoid painful truths and the consequences of repressing emotions. Granny’s denial prevents her from fully processing her past and addressing unresolved issues. However, in her last moments, her confrontation of death and the decision to take her last breath signals her character’s progression.

The Empty Comfort of Religious Faith

The theme of religion is explored through Granny Weatherall’s character. Granny’s Catholic faith plays a significant role in her life, shaping her outlook and her identity. Her religious beliefs are most evident in her thoughts and reflections as she lies on her deathbed. Granny sees her faith as a support, helping her to endure hardships and disappointments. Recalling the adversity and challenges she has faced, including being left at the altar by her first love, Granny asserts, “Without thee, my God, I could never have done it” (Paragraph 26).

As Granny Weatherall’s life draws to a close, she clings to her faith as a source of comfort and guidance. She feels “easy about her soul” (Paragraph 49), as she has adhered to the moral guidelines and rituals of her faith. Consequently, she anticipates an afterlife in heaven and a reunion with loved ones including her beloved daughter Hapsy. However, the narrative also hints at Granny’s realization that faith is no substitute for close connections with loved ones. This is symbolized when she drops her rosary and Jimmy attempts to place it back in her hand. Rejecting the rosary, Granny grips her son’s finger instead, reflecting, “Beads wouldn’t do, it must be something alive” (Paragraph 55).

Granny trusts God to “give a sign” that it is time to let go of life (Paragraph 57). When he fails to do so, Granny interprets this as God’s absence. God’s failure to attend Granny Weatherall’s death is compared to George’s jilting of her years earlier. The protagonist reflects, “Again no bridegroom and the priest in the house” (Paragraph 58). On her second jilting, Granny’s sense of betrayal is more intense, as her life’s foundations have been built on faith in God’s presence. In the last moments of her life she must face the possibility that there is no afterlife and there will be no reunion with Hapsy. At the end of the story Granny’s decision to give up on God and take her last breath represents a final act of control.

Contemplation of Mortality

Mortality is another focal point in “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” one that permeates the story. Through the character of Granny Weatherall, Porter explores the complex emotions and reflections that accompany the approach of death. The protagonist’s impending demise serves as the catalyst for her introspection and contemplation of her own mortality. As Granny lies on her deathbed, her thoughts and memories fluctuate between the present and the past, blurring the boundaries between life and death. This narrative technique highlights the fragmented and disoriented state of Granny’s mind, mirroring the disarray of her thoughts as death draws near.

One aspect of the theme of mortality is the portrayal of Granny Weatherall’s physical decline. The protagonist feels that her own body is betraying her as she approaches death. Porter describes Granny’s physical condition, depicting her weakened body, labored breathing, and the way her senses begin to fail her: “Her bones felt loose, and floated around in her skin, and Doctor Harry floated like a balloon around the foot of the bed” (Paragraph 6). Granny becomes acutely aware of her own vulnerability, recognizing that death is inevitable. This realization prompts her to reflect on her life, the choices she made, and the relationships she has had.

Furthermore, the theme of mortality is intertwined with the concept of time. Granny Weatherall’s contemplation of her own mortality compels her to revisit significant moments from her past. The story is marked by Granny’s flashbacks, as she recalls both joyous and painful experiences. Through these recollections, the story suggests that the awareness of mortality can intensify the significance of life’s fleeting moments and the need for closure.

Regret and the desire for resolution are also connected to the theme of mortality. Granny Weatherall wrestles with unresolved emotions and experiences, particularly the jilting incident that occurred in her youth. The memory of being abandoned by her fiancé on her wedding day continues to haunt her, representing a profound emotional wound. As death approaches, Granny seeks closure and reconciliation, yearning for resolution and understanding.

Granny’s impulse to deny her mortality until the final sentence of the story reflects the human condition. In the penultimate paragraph, Granny’s panicked assertion, “I’m not going Cornelia. I’m taken by surprise,” illustrates this point (Paragraph 56). Although Granny has been internally preparing for this moment for the entirety of the narrative, death’s proximity still comes as a horrible shock. Her character demonstrates that, while the inevitability of death shapes our lives, when the moment arrives, it is hard to accept.