The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” the symbolism of light and darkness contributes to the author’s exploration of hope, religious faith, and mortality. Early in the narrative, darkness has negative associations for Granny. It represents the death she is resisting and also the painful memories of being jilted by George. Granny’s former ability to banish darkness (or at least repress it) is symbolized in her memory of lighting the lamps to comfort her frightened children when they were young. However, the protagonist’s sense of control over darkness is shown to wane in the course of the story. As the narrative progresses, unwelcome memories and death encroach.

Light symbolism is continued in the blue light at Granny’s bedside. The weak glow from the kerosene lamp represents the protagonist’s life (51), “flutter[ing] and dwindle[ing] as her death approaches (57). Granny’s religious faith also ascribes spiritual connotations to the light, suggesting the divine presence of God. As such, it seems to represent the possibility of Granny finding solace, guidance, or a sense of peace in the face of her mortality. However, when the blue light becomes “a tiny point in […] the center of her brain” (57), Granny realizes God is not present. Ultimately, facing her death alone, she extinguishes the light of her life herself in a final act of control.