How is this the story of another “jilting”? What is similar between thatfateful day of sixty years ago (described in paragraphs 29, 49, and 61) and the time when Granny is dying? This time, who is the “bridegroom” who is not in the house?
What will be an ideal response?
Before talking about the final paragraph, why not read aloud to your students the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–13)?
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; goye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us andy ou: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
Evidently, the bridegroom whom Granny awaits at the end of the story is Christ. When he does not appear, she feels jilted for a second time. Why doesn't he come? Why does Granny not receive the sign she asks for? Is it because her pride is so overweening (“I'll never forgive it”) as to keep her from salvation? Is it because of her refusal to stay prepared for death (par. 18)? Or did she receive her sign (the last rites of the Church) and merely fail to perceive it? Students may object to the apparent grimness of the ending. Some of them are likely to insist that Granny gets worse than she deserves, that Porter has allowed her symbolism to run roughshod over her humanity. Divergent opinions may spark a lively discussion.
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