Aunt Granny Lith Analysis

There seems to be a repeating sense of the past coming back to haunt Casey in the story “Aunt Granny Lith” by Chris Offutt. Casey suffered the passing of two wifes and these unfortunate series of events led to him meeting Beth. When he marries his third wife, Beth, he is seen very protective of her. Casey and Beth really fell for eachother when they met. Although there was some roadblocks like the local preacher refusing to marry them or the fear of Casey being hexed. The couple still got their way and moved into their new house. Beth followed a woman into the woods one day and after telling Casey it was apparent he did not want to believe it. Beth saw Aunt Granny, the woman Casey proposed to by accident. Beth was now scared of being haunted
Lith says she will wait for Casey after he proposed intentionally. At first it seems to Nomey that Casey is hexed because his first two wives died. Casey married for the third time, and Lith still seems to haunt his marriage life. Beth told Casey about going into the woods and “Casey leaned the shotgun beside the door and sat on the bed. He rubbed his face.” (4; par. 8) This shows how Casey can not stand the presence of Lith in his life and is regretful to say the story of how he met Lith. Beth goes to Nomey for advice on what to do about Lith. Beth, in an attempt to make amends, gives Lith vegetables for a year, just like Nomey suggested. Beth noticed the scent of burnt cedar grew for weeks in the house. Beth asked Nomey for advice on what to do. Nomey suggested that Casey had to sleep with Lith to break the curse. Beth and Nomey would convince Casey to give Lith closure. Beth was pregnant and she did not want to bring a child into the world with Liths burden. Beth went to Casey before he left and “She embraced him, rocking and moaning low in her throat.”(8; par. 2) This shows that Beth shows sympathy for Casey and is grateful for doing this for her. Casey goes down to the log and comes back with “Nail marks gashed his shoulders and dark clots clung to his chest.” (8; par. 5) After that night, Casey took two weeks of rest and finally decided to tell Beth what happened. Casey asked for a cigar, which is something he never had done, and starts telling Beth what happened. He was surprised by Liths request to kill her after what they did. The story goes on to the present, where you can see Beth carrying Casey's passed out body on to the porch. They both ley in a quilt and Casey tells Beth he has not been that good to her and Beth is just happy he is there. This shows how Beth is happy to have him around after what he went through for her. Marriage is about sacrifice and compassion and we