Grandmother as Head of Household in Katherine Anne Porters The Old Order :: Free Essays

granny as Head of Household in Katherine Anne ushers The Old OrderIn her piffling story, The Old Order, Katherine Anne Porters creation of Miss Sophia Jane--The grannie-- illustrates the embodiment of patriarchal tycoon within a matriarchal figure. What intrigues me is Porters reversal of personality traits between the Grandmother and her preserve. Porters depiction of the Grandmother paints her as the undisputed head of house-- she wears the pants to a lower place the many layers of lacy petticoats and heavy skirts.The contrast between the Grandmother and her married man strike me as a reversal of typical gender-assigned personality traits. The Grandmother is altogether just, humane, proud, and simple, in and of itself, I would attach these traits to a virile man ( non just any man) (20). In contrast, the terms Porter uses to describe the Grandmothers husband, in and of themselves, are gendered, hysterical traits lack of aim, failure to phone number at crises, a philosophic detachment from practical affairs (21). In the marriage of these antithetical personalities, Porter illuminates the problems faced by a obdurate women stifled by her gender-defined role in life.Atypically, the Grandmother was the head of the household, undeniably the dominant figure-- for virtually everything. Her husband disliked and feared her deadly willfulness, her certainty that her feelings were not only right, exactly beyond criticism, and in doing so he loathed the traits that normally sit with a male head of house (21). In doling out her authority, the Grandmother may have been perceived as unwavering, but her own doubts and hesitations she concealed . . . as a matter of duty (11). at that place was no female emotionality behind the Grandmothers actions, what was rational was right the Grandmothers husband took care of any illogical thinking and foolhardy ventures.The Grandmother was undeniably before her time. While she embodied the persona of a patriarch, she was inef ficient to fully assume her role-- and Im not talking the male sexual role.