My relections on The Jilting of Granny Weatherall by Katherine Anne Porter

1.) In the very first paragraph, what does the writer tell us about Ellen (Granny) Weatherall?
The writer protrays Ellen to be obviously close to death in the sense that she sees Doctor Harry floating around her bed as he's talking to her. She seems to be a stubborn woman who would rather be taking care of herself. She has been all of her life, so it is normal for her to make sure that everyone knows that even if she comes off rather rude.

2.) What does the name Weatherall have to do with Granny's nature (or her life story)? What other traits or qualities do you find in her?
The name Weatherall refers to Granny "wheathering" all atributes of life. She has basically been through everything; All the ups and downs of life. She took care of many children, had a husband that left her for a younger woman and enjoyed having much to do around the house. She seems to enjoy being the one people look to for help. But, not she is the one that people are providing for. She is not afraid of dying, in fact she has faced the idea of dying for a long time.

3.) What do you understand from the statement, "Her bones felt loose, and floated around in her skin, and Doctor Harry floated like a balloon." By what other remarks does the writer indicate Granny's condition? At what other moments does she fail to understand or confuse what is past and present?
Granny is obviously dying. She is slipping in and out of cosciousness and not necessarily feeling the weight of her body anymore, but her soul. Another comment that indicates this is, "Cornelia knelt down and put her head on the pillow. She seemed to be talking but there was no sound. Cornelia's mouth moved urgently in strange shapes." She simply cannot hear or understand conversations anymore. Another remark is when she indicates that the doctor need not be there because he was just in three minutes ago. However, a whole entire day had gone by. She is also confused about when the priest comes to visit her. She is obviously annoyed by his visit thinking that he is coming to inquire about her soul but in reality he is simply there to guide her sould to heaven.

11.) " This is the story of an eighty-year-old woman lying in bed, getting groggy, and dying. I can't see why it should interest anybody." How would you answer this critic?
I would say that this is the story of a woman leaving the earth and entering into heaven. It takes the point of veiw and thoughts of what someone thinks when they are dying. She revisits places in her mind that have been pushed away for quite sometime. To her, her thoughts are clear and meaningful. To me this is a sad story. This woman thinks she has prepared herself for death but come to find out when she knows it's time, she begs to her daughter, "I'm not going, Cornelia, I'm taken by surprise. I can't go." This stroy has much more to it that a woman groggy and dying.