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Canning Jars of Fruit
The quilt that the women wish to bring to Minnie Wright in jail takes on symbolic meaning through repeated discussion of two types of quilting styles: regular quilting and knotting. At first, Mrs. Peters and Martha Hale discuss these quilting techniques literally, but the story concludes with George Henderson asking about which quilting technique Minnie was planning to use to finish the quilt. In this scene, Martha Hale’s statement that she was planning to “knot it” symbolizes the act of killing by tying a rope around another’s neck. At the end of the story, the two women are sure of Minnie’s guilt and also understand why Minnie killed her cruel husband, but they have not further discussed the making of the quilt. Therefore, the certainty in Martha Hale’s statement shows that the act of “knotting the quilt” is a symbolic one. The men, of course, overlook the metaphorical implications of this action, dismissing it as just another trifle.
The Quilt Quotes in A Jury of Her Peers
The A Jury of Her Peers quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Quilt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
A Jury of Her Peers
Quotes
“…at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies?”
“We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson.”
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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The Quilt Symbol Timeline in A Jury of Her Peers
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Quilt appears in A Jury of Her Peers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
A Jury of Her Peers
The women find a quilt that Minnie Wright was working on. As Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale are admiring the...
(full context)
...kitchen and, in a sudden decision, Mrs. Hale conceals the dead bird’s box under the quilt. George Henderson brings up the previous joke of the women’s concern with the quilt, wanting...
(full context)
...has collected, and the attorney starts to look at the pile of clothes and the quilt, before quickly dismissing the need to check through the womanly items saying, “a sheriff’s wife...
(full context)
...that at least they found out something: the way Minnie was planning to finish her quilt. He asks the women to remind him of the term they use, and Mrs. Hale...
(full context)
