Point of View in “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” Anonymous 12th Grade

In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter, point of view is used to show Granny Weatherall’s path to death. The people around Granny, such as Cornelia and Doctor Harry, don’t truly understand what she’s going through. Although it’s strongly implied that Granny is dying, mostly because of the hallucinations and banter, Granny herself doesn’t realize until her final moments. However, the short story is actually written in third person. It could easily be confused for first person though because of the focus on Granny’s mind and experience; going through the daze, Porter writes in a manner that makes the reader experience this craziness with Granny Weatherall.

The use of “my” and “I” throughout the story makes it seem a lot like Porter had been writing in first-person. However, if you pay attention, it’s actually just a very long inner monologue for Granny. It’s made clear from the beginning that she is sick, but she doesn’t realize that she is on her deathbed. However, the reader, who is emerged into Granny Weatherall’s mind, is very much aware. The strange, random memories that appear from nowhere along with the unheard phrases to those around her reveal this; “Then Hapsy melted from within and turned flimsy...