Control in Katherine Anne Porters The Jilting of Granny Weatherall :: The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

Control in Katherine Anne Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" Control, power, and influence are all things that people strive for throughout their lives. When a powerful person grows old however, their power may slip in spite their attempts to maintain control. An elderly person may feel useless, or they may have feelings of loss, regret, or waste. Issues of aging, control, and feelings of waste are something Katherine Anne Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" describes with vivid detail. The story opens with Granny trying to refuse the care of her doctor. The story is viewed through limited omniscient and through her eyes we see that she feels she is strong enough to care for herself. She sees the doctor as unnecessary and views herself as a well woman. She actually tells the doctor to "Get along and doctor your sick. . . leave a well woman alone. I'll call for you when I want you" (1682). This is the reader's first insight into Granny's stubbornness to receive help of any kind. She also regards the doctor as disrespectful, making comments like "that brat ought to be in knee britches" and "I'd have you respect your elders young man." (1682). She tries to command respect by invoking colloquialism of age equating to wisdom and/or a right to be respected and exercise control over their juniors. When the doctor treats her with patronizing actions Granny dismisses him. Granny is obviously dealing with a great deal of helpless feelings and looks for a chance for control. Her age and delirium are apparent when the doctor goes to leave and she describes him as floating. She then hears sounds that she can't immediately identify, this another clue to her slowly slipping sanity. The sounds (which she comprehends first as rustling leaves or swishing newspaper) are the doctor whispering with Granny's daughter Cornelia in the doorway. Granny is very displeased with her daughter's brashness to whisper about her in the doorway to her bedroom where there is a chance that she will hear what they're saying. Granny's displeasure with her daughter reaches far beyond just her whispering in the doorway. Cornelia is the closest character there is an antagonist in this story. When concerning her daughter, Granny can do nothing but criticize the way she does most everything. These criticisms on the surface are simply the reproofs of a picky old woman. Control in Katherine Anne Porter's The Jilting of Granny Weatherall :: The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Control in Katherine Anne Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" Control, power, and influence are all things that people strive for throughout their lives. When a powerful person grows old however, their power may slip in spite their attempts to maintain control. An elderly person may feel useless, or they may have feelings of loss, regret, or waste. Issues of aging, control, and feelings of waste are something Katherine Anne Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" describes with vivid detail. The story opens with Granny trying to refuse the care of her doctor. The story is viewed through limited omniscient and through her eyes we see that she feels she is strong enough to care for herself. She sees the doctor as unnecessary and views herself as a well woman. She actually tells the doctor to "Get along and doctor your sick. . . leave a well woman alone. I'll call for you when I want you" (1682). This is the reader's first insight into Granny's stubbornness to receive help of any kind. She also regards the doctor as disrespectful, making comments like "that brat ought to be in knee britches" and "I'd have you respect your elders young man." (1682). She tries to command respect by invoking colloquialism of age equating to wisdom and/or a right to be respected and exercise control over their juniors. When the doctor treats her with patronizing actions Granny dismisses him. Granny is obviously dealing with a great deal of helpless feelings and looks for a chance for control. Her age and delirium are apparent when the doctor goes to leave and she describes him as floating. She then hears sounds that she can't immediately identify, this another clue to her slowly slipping sanity. The sounds (which she comprehends first as rustling leaves or swishing newspaper) are the doctor whispering with Granny's daughter Cornelia in the doorway. Granny is very displeased with her daughter's brashness to whisper about her in the doorway to her bedroom where there is a chance that she will hear what they're saying. Granny's displeasure with her daughter reaches far beyond just her whispering in the doorway. Cornelia is the closest character there is an antagonist in this story. When concerning her daughter, Granny can do nothing but criticize the way she does most everything. These criticisms on the surface are simply the reproofs of a picky old woman.