Question

Read the following excerpt from Katherine Anne Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"
Cornelia's voice staggered and jumped like a cart in a bad road. It rounded corners and turned back again and arrived nowhere. Granny stepped up in the cart very lightly and reached for the reins, but a man sat beside her and she knew him by his hands, driving the cart. She did not look in his face, for she knew without seeing, but looked instead down the road where the trees leaned over and bowed to each other and a thousand birds were singing a Mass. She felt like singing too, but she put her hand in the bosom of her dress and pulled out a rosary, and Father Connolly murmured Latin in a very solemn voice and tickled her feet. My God, will you stop that nonsense? I'm a marned woman What if he did run away and leave me to face the priest by myself? I found another a whole world better, I wouldn't nave exchanged my husband for anybody except St. Michael himself, and you may tell him that for me with a thank you in the bargain

Light flashed on her closed eyelids, and a deep roaring shook her Cornelia, is that lightning? I hear thunder. There's going to be a storm. Close all the windows. Call the children in... "Mother, here we are, all of us." "Is that you Hapsy?" "Oh, no, I'm Lydia. We drove as fast as we could." Their faces drifted above her, drifted away The rosary fell out of her hands and Lydia put it back. Jimmy tred to help, their hands fumbled together, and granny closed two fingers around Jimmy's thumb. Beads wouldn't do, it must be something alive. She was so amazed her thoughts ran round and round. So, my dear Lord, this is my death and I wasn't even thinking about it. My children have come to see me die. But I can't, it's not time. Oh, I always hated surprises

Identify two powerful themes that are clearly developed in this excerpt of "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall." How does the author develop the two themes over the course of this excerpt? Be sure to use specific details from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

One powerful theme that is clearly developed in this excerpt is the theme of death. Throughout the passage, Granny Weatherall is depicted as dealing with the idea of her impending death. She reflects on her past, her relationships, and her feelings about dying. For example, she thinks about her jilting by her former lover, her marriage to her husband, and her relationship with her children. She also experiences confusion and surprise at the realization that she is actually dying. This theme is developed through Granny's thoughts and interactions with her children, as well as through the imagery of the storm approaching, which symbolizes the end of her life.

Another powerful theme in this excerpt is the theme of family and relationships. Granny Weatherall's thoughts and interactions with her children demonstrate the importance of family and the impact that relationships have on her life. She reflects on her marriage, her children, and her memories of the past. The author uses dialogue and descriptions of Granny's interactions with her children to reveal the depth of her relationships and the emotions that they evoke in her. For example, Granny's confusion about which child is present, her physical gestures of reaching for them and holding onto them, and her thoughts about her marriage all highlight the significance of family in her life. Overall, the theme of family and relationships is developed through Granny's reflections and interactions with her children, as well as through the imagery of the storm, which brings the family together in the face of Granny's impending death.