On the first occasion Mrs Papagay had met her, there had been a discussion of the process of grief, and Mrs Jesse had nodded sagely, "I know that. I have felt that,' like a kind of tragic chorus. 'I have felt everything; I know everything. I don't want any new emotion. I know what it is to feel like a stoan."
In the narrative, Mrs. Papagay recalls her initial encounter with Mrs. Jesse, during which they delved into the complexities of grief. Mrs. Jesse, exhibiting an air of profound understanding, expressed her acknowledgment of various emotions, asserting, "I know that. I have felt that." This statement reflects a deep, almost melancholic awareness of her own struggles, creating a sense of shared sorrow between the two women.
Mrs. Jesse's remarks convey a weariness towards new experiences of emotion, suggesting she has reached a saturation point in her feelings. By stating, "I have felt everything; I know everything," she projects a sense of resignation, revealing that her past experiences have left her emotionally burdened. Her metaphor of feeling like a "stoan" emphasizes the weight of her grief and the heaviness of her heart, framing her struggle with the emotional landscape of life.
