Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
You don't need to be a Biblical scholar to notice several symbols of Christianity in "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall." We're not told much about the room Granny is in, but we do know that it's got a religious vibe to it. A candle and a crucifix on a table near the bed are meant to symbolize God and Christ, and Granny's rosary is a pretty obvious one too—the word rosary means 'garland of roses,' with a rose symbolizing the Virgin Mary.
What's interesting about all these symbolic objects is how they end up failing Granny in her final moments. Take the rosary, for example. The narrator explains,
The rosary fell out of [Granny's] hands and Lydia put it back. Jimmy tried to help, their hands fumbled together, and Granny closed two fingers around Jimmy's thumb. Beads wouldn't do, it must be something alive. (57)
The rosary just doesn't turn out to be as effective in comforting Granny as human contact with her son. Despite all of the symbols of faith in the room, at the very end of the story, Granny hangs out waiting for a sign from God that she never ends up receiving. This all makes us wonder if there's some critique of religious belief going on here. What do you think?