The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

Granny Weatherall is the protagonist of “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall.” The character is a complex woman who is both strong and vulnerable. Granny is a character whose life experiences have shaped her into a strong-willed and independent person, but she is also haunted by the memory of a painful event from her past.

Granny’s character is defined by her resistance to vulnerability and a fierce desire for control. Life has been “a hard pull, but not too much for her” (Paragraph 25). This is emphasized through her symbolic name, Weatherall. Her independence and self-sufficiency are evident in the opening scenes of the story, where she is depicted as a woman who is determined to manage her own affairs, even as she lies on her deathbed. Granny is a woman who has always taken care of herself and her family, and she is fiercely protective of her independence. However, this desire for control also manifests in stubborn resistance to accepting help or acknowledging her own vulnerability.

Granny’s past experiences also contribute to her character development. The memory of being jilted by her former lover, George, has haunted her for decades. It is an event that has left a profound mark on her emotional life, leading her to develop a defensive, prickly exterior.