Kayla Ross
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall
Katherine Anne Porter’s The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, is tale that allows the reader to step in the shoes of an elderly women as she reminisces about her life and realizes that her heart has not yet recovered from the many betrayals she has suffered from. Grandma Weatherall is first introduced in her bedroom on her death bed, and readers then make a quick judgment as she snaps at the Doctor and her daughter who is trying to help her, readers questioned “what’s wrong with her”(pg1) but then Grandma Weatherall’s behavior was the justified as readers realized that “can we expect? She’s eighty years old…”. The reader then takes a turn of thought as Porter then introduces the reader to the events that made Weatherall the person she is, through the betrayal and injustices she suffered through loved ones.
Porter introduces the first account of betrayal through symbolism. While Granny Weatherall is in a semi conscious states objects in her room, begin to represent objects and different identities, there were “shelves laid out in dust with rows of jelly glasses and brown jugs and white stone-china jars with blue whirligigs and dust on top of the china pieces”, the dust that Granny Weatherall noticed can be seen as a symbolism for the disorder that took place in her life, that she believed that she swept under the carpet. Porter then introduces one of the moments Weatherall believed that she had in the back of her head, the day “she has put on the white veil and set out the white cake for the man who never arrived”. (pg 2) Through the third person Porter, puts emphasis on the fact that the betrayal of her fiance had felt like “the bottom dropped out of the world.”(pg 2) Porter sensory details by allowing the reader to experience the same emotion that Weatherall did as “she was blind and sweating with nothing under her feet and the walls falling away.”(pg 2)the reader then began to pity Grandma Weatherall and understand why she was so bitter.
The second betrayal that was introduced to the reader was the betrayal of her daughter Hapsy who failed to come visit her, Granny is so affected by this betrayal that though the art of flashback she seems to see herself a Hapsy, “the baby on Hapsy’s arm was Hapsy and himself and herself, all at once, and there was no surprise in the meeting.” (pg 3) The reader was able to grasp Granny’s love through these flash backs and made the connection that similar to Granny ex-fiance, Hapsy was also being left once again and was abandoning her mother. Throughout the story Granny asked for Hapsy about a record of five times, through repetition and consistency Porter portrayed Haspy as Granny’s savior.
As Granny Weatherall now is returning back to her reality, Porter reveals the final betrayal by using descriptive writing as Grandma Weatheall “Granny lay curled down within herself, amazed and watchful, staring at the point of light that was herself; her body was now only a deeper mass of shadow in an endless darkness and this darkness would curl around the light and swallow it up.” This use of imagery, adds drama to the scene its self, as the reader is wondering what is Granny’s next move as she is slipping closer to her death. , “the blue light from Cornelia’s lampshade drew into a tiny point in the center of her brain,”(3) and then Granny asks God for “a sign,”(3) so she could be assured of an after life but “there was no sign”. The betrayal of God to the reader almost over powers the betrayal of her fiancé.
Katherine Anne Porter’s The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, focuses on how betrayal can affect one’s life almost through the account of an elder women. She described these accounts of betrayal through the art of flashback and brought out these accounts through symbolism and imagery.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Journal #7
Kayla Ross
English-Journal 7
Pay What You Owe
Next stop Union square. Melanie was suddenly awakened from her deep sleep, she peeked one eye open, unaware of her surroundings, she looked around only to be confronted with three other eyes also staring in her direction. “Shit, I’m late” she mumbled to herself, while stuffing the papers she had scattered on her lap, into her small brown purse. The gray steel doors opened and Melanie found herself being flung side to side by the millions of other people needing to meet a time quota. “Excuse me! ” she yelled , while she ran up the stairs in her size nine Vera Wang heels. Her short blonde hair cut clung to her head, while sweat dripped down her neck. “Taxi” she screamed while waving her two arms in the air. The Taxi stopped abruptly and Melanie jumped in the passenger seat, “42nd and fifth avenue, step on it” she commanded the driver while pulling out her Blackberry, she suddenly was overwhelmed by her twelve voicemails and twenty new texts.
Most of her texts were from numerous men, ones she had met at all the clubs and events she frequently attended; men who all seemed to have one thing in common they were attracted to her mysterious, fun loving, tom-boyish nature and it seemed like they all wanted to be the volunteer to tame the wild female beast. Melanie deleted all of the texts, without giving notice to them and took her M.A.C make up case out of her bag. She began to fish through the empty tubes of foundation and searched for lipstick that wasn’t dried out or finished. She noticed the cab came to a halt and without asking how much she dug through the pockets of her trench coat and flung a crumpled up hundred dollar bill into the drivers lap. She hurried out of the car, unaware of the enormous tip she gave the driver and the pink M.A.C makeup bag and blackberry that was on the backseat.
Melanie approached two huge gold doors that read VOGUE across the front of it, and her nerves started to kick in, they were the only thing that actually was on schedule. A huge arrow read EDITORIAL AUDITIONS THIS WAY, which Melanie followed, she then found herself in a waiting room, surrounded by a variety of well dressed females. Many were buried into their laptops while others flipped through note cards. Melanie wondered if she should have skipped the party at the Tahona night club last night, and stayed home preparing for the interview. “I’ll be fine,” she thought, while luckily finding a seat next to a slim brunette.
“Nice Vera Wang’s” the brunette whispered sarcastically, “Last Season right?,” the girl questioned.
“I don’t really know, I got them at a thrift store,” Melanie answered unaware of the girl’s use of sarcasm.
“They’re quite interesting,” the brunette replied, returning back to her studying.
A man with a clip board opened the door, he seemed to be about 5’2 and was very welled dressed, “Melanie Citrus” he called out, “That’s me” Melanie said, walking over to were the man stood.
“Melanie you’re late, step lively” he said.
Melanie followed the man through the hallway as he stormed her with questions.
“Do you have your USB chip?” he asked.
“USB chip?” she questioned.
“Alright, well how are you going to be giving your presentation then?” the man asked annoyingly.
“What presentation?” she asked wide eyed.
“Mrs. Citrus, this is not a game, I take my job seriously and I do not have time for your foolish antics, any other girl in the room will love to take your spot”.
“Trust me, this is not a joke to me I am in need of this job badly, this is my dream job” Melanie pleaded. “I’m sorry I was unaware that we had to give a presentation”.
“Were you also unaware of the voicemail and emails the company sent informing the applicants of what they were required to bring? What did you expect to be judged on your good looks?” the man snapped.
Melanie stayed quiet trying to fight the tears that were forcing there way out of her eyes.
“Ms. Citrus, please exit out of the gold doors on your right,“ the man stated while walking away, leaving a distraught Melanie by herself in the hallway.
Melanie exited the building, her whole body was numb she couldn’t feel her legs and her throat was tight, she flagged down a Taxi. “1021 Cabrini Blvd” she told the driver. Melanie slid into the backseat without even taking notice of the shady character, that was in the driver’s seat. Melanie closed her eyes and rested her head on her lap and began to cry silently she then fell asleep once again and was awaken by the cab driver. “Ms. we have arrived“, the driver said. Melanie awoke, “I’m sorry sir, how much?” she asked. “Twenty-five” he said. She dug through her pockets searching for any forms of money, “Crap, what are you going to do now Melanie ?” she thought. She reached for the car door, hoping the driver wouldn’t notice her attempt to leave. She heard a click and realized that the doors were now locked.
A face turned around to meet Melanie, one that was covered with untrimmed facial hair and was wrinkled filled. A cowboy hat sat upon the head guarding the eyes of its owner.
Melanie’s heart began to pick up pace, and her hands began to shake, she was nervous and began to search for words, “My friend is upstairs with the money, let me um just call her and she’ll come down”. Melanie then searched through her brown purse, frantically looking for her phone, an unsuccessful search. She looked up hopelessly at the face, which began to smile, a smile full of yellow teeth.
“Guess you’re going to have to pay what you owe darling”, it whispered while turning up the car radio.
Melanie began to scream and bang on the car window, while Cyndi Laupers, Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun echoed throughout the car, drowning out her cry’s for help.
English-Journal 7
Pay What You Owe
Next stop Union square. Melanie was suddenly awakened from her deep sleep, she peeked one eye open, unaware of her surroundings, she looked around only to be confronted with three other eyes also staring in her direction. “Shit, I’m late” she mumbled to herself, while stuffing the papers she had scattered on her lap, into her small brown purse. The gray steel doors opened and Melanie found herself being flung side to side by the millions of other people needing to meet a time quota. “Excuse me! ” she yelled , while she ran up the stairs in her size nine Vera Wang heels. Her short blonde hair cut clung to her head, while sweat dripped down her neck. “Taxi” she screamed while waving her two arms in the air. The Taxi stopped abruptly and Melanie jumped in the passenger seat, “42nd and fifth avenue, step on it” she commanded the driver while pulling out her Blackberry, she suddenly was overwhelmed by her twelve voicemails and twenty new texts.
Most of her texts were from numerous men, ones she had met at all the clubs and events she frequently attended; men who all seemed to have one thing in common they were attracted to her mysterious, fun loving, tom-boyish nature and it seemed like they all wanted to be the volunteer to tame the wild female beast. Melanie deleted all of the texts, without giving notice to them and took her M.A.C make up case out of her bag. She began to fish through the empty tubes of foundation and searched for lipstick that wasn’t dried out or finished. She noticed the cab came to a halt and without asking how much she dug through the pockets of her trench coat and flung a crumpled up hundred dollar bill into the drivers lap. She hurried out of the car, unaware of the enormous tip she gave the driver and the pink M.A.C makeup bag and blackberry that was on the backseat.
Melanie approached two huge gold doors that read VOGUE across the front of it, and her nerves started to kick in, they were the only thing that actually was on schedule. A huge arrow read EDITORIAL AUDITIONS THIS WAY, which Melanie followed, she then found herself in a waiting room, surrounded by a variety of well dressed females. Many were buried into their laptops while others flipped through note cards. Melanie wondered if she should have skipped the party at the Tahona night club last night, and stayed home preparing for the interview. “I’ll be fine,” she thought, while luckily finding a seat next to a slim brunette.
“Nice Vera Wang’s” the brunette whispered sarcastically, “Last Season right?,” the girl questioned.
“I don’t really know, I got them at a thrift store,” Melanie answered unaware of the girl’s use of sarcasm.
“They’re quite interesting,” the brunette replied, returning back to her studying.
A man with a clip board opened the door, he seemed to be about 5’2 and was very welled dressed, “Melanie Citrus” he called out, “That’s me” Melanie said, walking over to were the man stood.
“Melanie you’re late, step lively” he said.
Melanie followed the man through the hallway as he stormed her with questions.
“Do you have your USB chip?” he asked.
“USB chip?” she questioned.
“Alright, well how are you going to be giving your presentation then?” the man asked annoyingly.
“What presentation?” she asked wide eyed.
“Mrs. Citrus, this is not a game, I take my job seriously and I do not have time for your foolish antics, any other girl in the room will love to take your spot”.
“Trust me, this is not a joke to me I am in need of this job badly, this is my dream job” Melanie pleaded. “I’m sorry I was unaware that we had to give a presentation”.
“Were you also unaware of the voicemail and emails the company sent informing the applicants of what they were required to bring? What did you expect to be judged on your good looks?” the man snapped.
Melanie stayed quiet trying to fight the tears that were forcing there way out of her eyes.
“Ms. Citrus, please exit out of the gold doors on your right,“ the man stated while walking away, leaving a distraught Melanie by herself in the hallway.
Melanie exited the building, her whole body was numb she couldn’t feel her legs and her throat was tight, she flagged down a Taxi. “1021 Cabrini Blvd” she told the driver. Melanie slid into the backseat without even taking notice of the shady character, that was in the driver’s seat. Melanie closed her eyes and rested her head on her lap and began to cry silently she then fell asleep once again and was awaken by the cab driver. “Ms. we have arrived“, the driver said. Melanie awoke, “I’m sorry sir, how much?” she asked. “Twenty-five” he said. She dug through her pockets searching for any forms of money, “Crap, what are you going to do now Melanie ?” she thought. She reached for the car door, hoping the driver wouldn’t notice her attempt to leave. She heard a click and realized that the doors were now locked.
A face turned around to meet Melanie, one that was covered with untrimmed facial hair and was wrinkled filled. A cowboy hat sat upon the head guarding the eyes of its owner.
Melanie’s heart began to pick up pace, and her hands began to shake, she was nervous and began to search for words, “My friend is upstairs with the money, let me um just call her and she’ll come down”. Melanie then searched through her brown purse, frantically looking for her phone, an unsuccessful search. She looked up hopelessly at the face, which began to smile, a smile full of yellow teeth.
“Guess you’re going to have to pay what you owe darling”, it whispered while turning up the car radio.
Melanie began to scream and bang on the car window, while Cyndi Laupers, Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun echoed throughout the car, drowning out her cry’s for help.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Reaction paper : Lamb the the Slaughter
Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter is not only a witty tale, but is a tale of suspense and it is sure to engage any reader regardless of age group. Throughout the story the reader swims through the sea of countless emotions; from sympathizing with the protagonist, to being in a state of shock, being devoured into a state of suspense all emotions that are built off of the platform of betrayal. Dahl lays out three ultimate accounts of betrayal through the expense of the Maloney’s. The Maloney’s from a third person perspective may be viewed as the starter kit to the perfect middle class family; as Dahl uses significant details to paint the picture of their luxurious home and uses characterization to introduce Mary Maloney and Peter Maloney. Mrs. Maloney is characterized as a devoted expecting housewife who is overwhelmed over her pregnancy and ready to start her family, and sees her husbands arrival home was “always a blissful time of day”, while Mr. Maloney is a working husband senior in the police division. The may seem to be the perfect candidates’ of what the perfect family consist of, but Dahl takes a turn on false perception and unravels the prominent theme of betrayal through a count of techniques leaving the reader at the edge of their seat throughout the remainder of the story.
Dahl first introduces the theme of betrayal with Peter Maloney’s unexplained reason to leave pregnant Mary to take care of a child by herself. Peter Maloney’s choice betrays their wedding vows and abandons Mary. Through direct dialogue, Dahl introduces a heartless Peter Maloney’s, through the text used in Peters speech such as “this is going to be a shock to you” and his mention that he “thought about it a good deal and I’ve decided the only thing to do is tell you right away. I hope you won’t blame me too much.” Peter then ends his “four or five minutes at most” speech about the ending to their marriage and states that she not fuss because it “would not be very good for my job.” Peter is now characterized as a selfish character, and the reader is shocked with his lack of sympathy and automatically begins to pity Mary. Dahl uses the active voice, subtext and also depicts the exact physical sensations that Mary is experiencing, Mary went from being in a state of “curiously tranquility” to feeling “a slight nausea and a desire to vomit.”, she also “couldn’t feel her feet touching the floor” as she began enter a state of an “automatic now-down“. The reader now begins to understand the degree of Mary’s betrayal through the art of subtext.
With this account of betrayal that is now introduced to the reader Dahl then uses the method of action to change the characterization of the pleasant and innocent housewife that the reader was first introduced to. Mary’s decision to kill her husband by striking him with a leg of lamb, changed the entire mood of piece, Mary was “feeling cold and surprised” as even she herself along with the reader is stunned and left mouth opened at Mary’s decision. The decision to kill her husband may be seen as the ultimate betrayal, but because of Dahl’s excellent characterization of Peter and how cold hearted he was, almost was an justification for the action committed by Mary.
The reader is now captured into suspense, as Dahl introduces yet another account of betrayal as Mary now begins to plot a way to deceive the cops that she is very familiar with. Dahl then becomes an omniscient author and allows the reader to go in to the mind of Mary’s. Mary’s mind “became clear all of a sudden” and “she began thinking very fast.” The reader is then amazed at her wittiness as she then begins to cook the object that she used to kill her husband. When the detectives arrive at the house they first question her, the reader is on the edge of their seat to see if Mary’s alibi and plan are foolproof which it is. Through out the search through the Maloney household Dahl masters the concept of irony, primarily when Mary offers the leg of lamb to the detectives who happily eat it , while eating the men exchange phrases about the “big club that the guy used to hit poor Patrick” and mentioned that the weapon “ought to be easy to find.” and probably “right under our very noses”. The weapon was indeed under their noses, more or less right in their mouths. Mary’s witty and smart plan on such quick thinking left the reader in a shock of amazement, sharing a smirk similar to Mary’s.
Through Lamb to the Slaughter Roald Dahl successfully delivered the theme of betrayal by playing with the emotions of the reader, allowing one to experience betrayal on many different levels.
Dahl first introduces the theme of betrayal with Peter Maloney’s unexplained reason to leave pregnant Mary to take care of a child by herself. Peter Maloney’s choice betrays their wedding vows and abandons Mary. Through direct dialogue, Dahl introduces a heartless Peter Maloney’s, through the text used in Peters speech such as “this is going to be a shock to you” and his mention that he “thought about it a good deal and I’ve decided the only thing to do is tell you right away. I hope you won’t blame me too much.” Peter then ends his “four or five minutes at most” speech about the ending to their marriage and states that she not fuss because it “would not be very good for my job.” Peter is now characterized as a selfish character, and the reader is shocked with his lack of sympathy and automatically begins to pity Mary. Dahl uses the active voice, subtext and also depicts the exact physical sensations that Mary is experiencing, Mary went from being in a state of “curiously tranquility” to feeling “a slight nausea and a desire to vomit.”, she also “couldn’t feel her feet touching the floor” as she began enter a state of an “automatic now-down“. The reader now begins to understand the degree of Mary’s betrayal through the art of subtext.
With this account of betrayal that is now introduced to the reader Dahl then uses the method of action to change the characterization of the pleasant and innocent housewife that the reader was first introduced to. Mary’s decision to kill her husband by striking him with a leg of lamb, changed the entire mood of piece, Mary was “feeling cold and surprised” as even she herself along with the reader is stunned and left mouth opened at Mary’s decision. The decision to kill her husband may be seen as the ultimate betrayal, but because of Dahl’s excellent characterization of Peter and how cold hearted he was, almost was an justification for the action committed by Mary.
The reader is now captured into suspense, as Dahl introduces yet another account of betrayal as Mary now begins to plot a way to deceive the cops that she is very familiar with. Dahl then becomes an omniscient author and allows the reader to go in to the mind of Mary’s. Mary’s mind “became clear all of a sudden” and “she began thinking very fast.” The reader is then amazed at her wittiness as she then begins to cook the object that she used to kill her husband. When the detectives arrive at the house they first question her, the reader is on the edge of their seat to see if Mary’s alibi and plan are foolproof which it is. Through out the search through the Maloney household Dahl masters the concept of irony, primarily when Mary offers the leg of lamb to the detectives who happily eat it , while eating the men exchange phrases about the “big club that the guy used to hit poor Patrick” and mentioned that the weapon “ought to be easy to find.” and probably “right under our very noses”. The weapon was indeed under their noses, more or less right in their mouths. Mary’s witty and smart plan on such quick thinking left the reader in a shock of amazement, sharing a smirk similar to Mary’s.
Through Lamb to the Slaughter Roald Dahl successfully delivered the theme of betrayal by playing with the emotions of the reader, allowing one to experience betrayal on many different levels.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The List
Julie flipped through the channels, she then noticed a dark figure headed towards her door. The figure glistened under the porch light and Julie squinted realizing it was one of her old friends Maggie.
"Hey Julie, can I umm sleep over tonight?" Maggie asked.
"Sure , Maggie most definitely, I never see you now, especially since the summer ended."
"You're so right." She replied walking inside the corridor peering around the Mc Doug’s Victorian inspired living room.
"Are your parents home?”
“No, they went upstate to my grandmother’s.” Julie smirked
“What about your brother?”
"Corey? He's not home yet he's out, he'll be back soon why is there a problem?
"No , just wondering". Maggie said fixing her hair in the wooden mirror near by.
"So Maggie, what's first? You want to watch a movie upstairs in my room?”
" No, I was just thinking we can sit down here and hang out," Maggie said patting the head of the leather couch. The two sat for a while watching the TV. in silence. They then heard footsteps approaching the house. Maggie's ears perked up
"Shhh , turn off the TV Julia" she said while fixing her clothing.
"Yeah those joggers are definitely going to charge in this room".
"Oh joggers?“ Maggie giggled. "I'm so silly" She then got off the couch and began to yawn.
“It’s like 12:30 isn’t it to late for Corey to be out with the guys?” she said glancing at the clock.
“ With the guys? When is Corey just ever out with the guys” Julie replied sarcastically.
“Yeah, he is quite popular now, I guess.” Maggie replied looking down at her shoes.
Rubbing her belly, she then walked into the kitchen trying to find any food she could. A shiny red Doritos bag awaited her, and a crumbled piece of paper lay beneath it. The paper was filled with telephone numbers and various names. Maggie recognized the names they were girls from the Senior class.
“What ya doing, Maggs? Julie said walking over to Maggie’s side.
“Oh, I guess you found Corey’s list “ she said giggling.
“What list?”
“You know, all the girl’s he’s talking to now they‘re so gullible, they all fall for his same old lines, pathetic right?” Remember to turn off the lights when your done” Julie said while leaving the kitchen.
“No problem”. Maggie said quietly.
Maggie’s eyes scanned the paper one last time,
“Yeah so pathetic.” she whispered.
She left the paper on the counter and then turned off the lights, leaving a dark kitchen behind her.
"Hey Julie, can I umm sleep over tonight?" Maggie asked.
"Sure , Maggie most definitely, I never see you now, especially since the summer ended."
"You're so right." She replied walking inside the corridor peering around the Mc Doug’s Victorian inspired living room.
"Are your parents home?”
“No, they went upstate to my grandmother’s.” Julie smirked
“What about your brother?”
"Corey? He's not home yet he's out, he'll be back soon why is there a problem?
"No , just wondering". Maggie said fixing her hair in the wooden mirror near by.
"So Maggie, what's first? You want to watch a movie upstairs in my room?”
" No, I was just thinking we can sit down here and hang out," Maggie said patting the head of the leather couch. The two sat for a while watching the TV. in silence. They then heard footsteps approaching the house. Maggie's ears perked up
"Shhh , turn off the TV Julia" she said while fixing her clothing.
"Yeah those joggers are definitely going to charge in this room".
"Oh joggers?“ Maggie giggled. "I'm so silly" She then got off the couch and began to yawn.
“It’s like 12:30 isn’t it to late for Corey to be out with the guys?” she said glancing at the clock.
“ With the guys? When is Corey just ever out with the guys” Julie replied sarcastically.
“Yeah, he is quite popular now, I guess.” Maggie replied looking down at her shoes.
Rubbing her belly, she then walked into the kitchen trying to find any food she could. A shiny red Doritos bag awaited her, and a crumbled piece of paper lay beneath it. The paper was filled with telephone numbers and various names. Maggie recognized the names they were girls from the Senior class.
“What ya doing, Maggs? Julie said walking over to Maggie’s side.
“Oh, I guess you found Corey’s list “ she said giggling.
“What list?”
“You know, all the girl’s he’s talking to now they‘re so gullible, they all fall for his same old lines, pathetic right?” Remember to turn off the lights when your done” Julie said while leaving the kitchen.
“No problem”. Maggie said quietly.
Maggie’s eyes scanned the paper one last time,
“Yeah so pathetic.” she whispered.
She left the paper on the counter and then turned off the lights, leaving a dark kitchen behind her.
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