Granny Weatherall Symbolism

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In the early 1900’s, the nineteenth amendment that guaranteed woman the right to vote was passed by congress. This was also the time woman started being able to have a voice. In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”, author, Katherine Anne Porter portrays the toughness of a woman who refuses to let the difficulties of life bring her down. Porter incorporates the use of literary devices throughout her story to induce the feelings perceived by the audience. In The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, the author includes Tragedy, Diction, Imagery, Symbols, Foreshadow, and Irony to interest the audience’s attention of the everlasting effect being jilted had on Granny Weatherall. The most evident use of literary device is Tragedy. The story’s plot is …show more content…

The recurring use of “Tomorrow” is very symbolic throughout this story. We first see Porter using it in the beginning of the story. She says as follows: “There was always so much to be done, let me see: tomorrow. Tomorrow was far away and there was nothing to trouble about” (57). Except, there was not a tomorrow and there was everything to trouble about. Shortly after, we see porter use it again. “The box in the attic with all those letters tied up, well, she’d have to go through that tomorrow” (57). A deeper meaning behind this reveals a hard headed, stern, catholic woman who is not ready to let go just yet. Being a woman who was jilted at the altar and whose husband passed away, Ellen knows the value of planning and time. She continues to use tomorrow as a perfect time to take care of those loose ends. Finally, porter uses it one last time. “Sometimes she wanted to see John again and point to them and say, Well, I didn’t do so badly, did I? But that would have to wait. That was for tomorrow” (58). This time, porter wants the reader to conclude that tomorrow will not be here on earth, but in heaven with