""We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson."..."See in text(Text of the Story)
To knot a quilt is to thread together its various layers with simple knots rather than elaborately sewn patterns, a method known as quilting. Mrs. Wright’s decision to “knot it” is symbolic in a couple of different ways. For one thing, the decision to “knot it” represents a departure from the toils and duties of domestic life. On another note, the process of knotting evokes the tying and knotting of the rope Mrs. Wright used to hang her husband.
""His neck. Choked the life out of him."..."See in text(Text of the Story)
The canary carries a great deal of symbolic meaning. On one level, the canary represents Mrs. Wright’s life—or, more accurately, her liveliness and vivacity. The canary is the remaining thread of Minnie Foster, the girl who sang in the choir and dressed in bright clothing. Mr. Wright’s choking of the canary is a figure for the way he drained the liveliness out of Mrs. Wright. The canary is also a figure for Mr. Wright, who was similarly choked to death.
""We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson."..."See in text(Text of the Story)
“Knot it” could symbolically stand for how the women “knot” the men’s investigation. Without a motive, the county attorney notes that it is likely that Minnie will not be found guilty. Thus, in not turning over the bird, the women protect Minnie from the law. Because the men discount women’s affairs as trivial, Mrs. Hale can tell him that they decided to “knot it,” both the investigation and the quilt, and the significance will be lost on him.
