In her bedroom, Granny is literally confined to her deathbed, revealing to the reader that death is approaching. The grandmother speaks of a longer life from where her life will end, pointing out that death could come at any time. As his mind begins to deteriorate, he begins to confuse the past with the present. At one time, she recalls having to dig hundreds of postholes after her husband's death, and enlightens the reader with the fact that "digging postholes changes a woman"; (Goalkeeper 85). The transition from a gentlemanly transition to one of hard work represents another kind of death. He has worked hard for years, anticipating the time when he will no longer need to work. Consequently, since she has become familiar with hard work, accepting that her death occurs effortlessly is very difficult for Mrs. Weatherall. Eventually, night approaches and Porter uses the time of day to symbolize mortality; not only is the end of the day passing, but so is grandma's life. Similar to the candle next to her bed, Grandma takes her last breath to extinguish the light of her own life. Just as the day has its end, so does every day