Don’t be deceived by appearances... people aren’t always as they seem to be. In the short story “The Possibility of Evil”, Shirley Jackson writes about Miss.Strangeworth, an elderly woman, who writes rude judgmental letters to the people in her town about all the things she think is wrong with them. Though on the outside Miss. Strangeworth seems like some nice old lady who has spent her entire life here in the little town, she is really a mean, rude and selfish person who doesn't seem to care about other people’s feelings.…
Section3 P4 Paragraphs 36-41 Summary: Miss Strangeworth entered into her house and put some roses in the room. She used colorful and childish pens and letter papers to write to the individuals in this unknown town. After thinking for a while, she decided to write letters to Ms. Harper who she just met in the morning, and was in attempt to write to the residents who looked distraught for the purpose of cleaning up the town. Generally, she wrote several horrific letters for her own benefits and she wanted to make the town away from the evil. Important quotations: 1.…
The short story “The Possibility of Evil,” by Shirley Jackson was written in 1965 and received the Edgar Allen Poe award. The story’s protagonist, Miss Adela Strangeworth portrays a character that is multifaceted. Miss Strangeworth’s personality traits are shown through her actions, comments, narrator’s descriptions and how others interact with her. Miss Strangeworth’s multifaceted character can be displayed through what she does and what she says. “Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently”(2).…
She is the servant girl of the Proctors and as the other girls, she was present and participated in the events that occurred on the woods that eventually would lead them to condemn others in order to save themselves. Since she is naive she follows the group on the fraud even though she knows and states that what they have done its wrong,…
1. How does the idea of good versus evil come into play in this story? Use examples from the text to explain your answer. The idea of good versus evil can be seen within the characters.…
An insincere person is one that has two sides of them, and what’s visible to others is their pretty one. Miss. Strangeworth is typically out in the public as an extrovert because of the amount of times she would stop to greet someone or ask them about their health. One of the people she runs into is Helen Crane and her baby. As their conversation continues,…
Things Can Happen Behind Closed Doors The first short story, “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is about a woman named Miss Strangeworth who wants to rid her town of evil, and to do this she sends out anonymous letters notifying people of the evil that surrounds them. The second short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is about a girl named Dee who lives with her mom and sister but dislikes they way they live. Miss Strangeworth and Dee are the same in a few ways because they are both selfish, arrogant, and don’t like the way people live; other than that Dee and Miss Strangeworth had different views on their family, Miss Strangeworth is hypocritical but Dee is straightforward, and Dee wants the best for herself, while Miss Strangeworth…
The short story “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is about an old woman named Miss Strangeworth who is determined to rid “Strangeworth Town” of evil, yet she does not notice that she is causing evil herself. Although she seems like a proper, nice old lady, when she goes home every day, she writes cruel letters to the people in her town. Miss Strangeworth notices that everyone in the town is distressed and she wonders why. She refuses to acknowledge that she is truly evil herself. No one in that town would suspect her sending rude letters to everyone.…
In the short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor ,the author focuses on the theme good vs. evil. There are many different ways the author expresses the theme of good vs. evil in the story. The grandmother is a person who believes in herself as a good individual and the misfit is character who is believed to be evil by society. The grandmother may be perceived a the good character in the story but she had tendencies and ways that are evil and the Misfit is a evil man who has the potential to be a good person.…
She is often seen as an innocent southern belle, just a beautiful fool. However, many readers view her in a completely opposite way. She has been noted as quite a dishonorable character, almost more of a villain, in the harshest of descriptions. She is motivated purely by her own comfort and security, which come in the way of money and material items.…
Integrity is the quality of being honest and fair, having a good heart with good morals and honor. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Miller writes about life in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and appreciates those who risked their lives for the goodness in their hearts. Additionally, there are three characters who portray this quality in their own way. Reverend John Hale, the puritan pastor, and loyal man to the people of Salem. Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, a hardworking mother with very strong morals.…
She created chaos in the town of Salem. Abigail Williams took joy from the witch trials, presenting an innocent character to others; despite being dishonest, selfish, and lustful while not caring about innocent human lives. Abigail Williams was attracted through lust towards John Proctor, which caused her to make bad decisions. Abigail wept, “John-I am waitin’ for you every night” (21). Abigail wants John Proctor to continue the affair with her.…
The townspeople get their revenge on Miss Strangeworth in the end but in the real world people have to deal with the consequences, especially if their prejudices are made by someone with more power. The connection can be made between “The Possibility of Evil” and the modern world, in the way that prejudice affects people…
All our life we grow up thinking the world around us is just peachy keen. Didn’t you? As children we think everyone and everything is good, we would like to hope this is the same case as we mature into adults. As we develop into adults we gain more knowledge, we learn not everything is going to be perfect. Adults gain a more pessimistic viewpoint in life, similarly how Shirley Jackson the author of “The Possibility of Evil” felt.…
Throughout the novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the reoccurring themes of innocence, friendship and human nature are clear. Innocence is shown by Shmuel and Bruno because they were born during the Holocaust and had to live through the hardships of this historical event. The boys are not aware of the full extent of the Holocaust and what is going on around them. Bruno and Shmuel represent a strong bond of friendship throughout the novel. Good versus evil is an example of human nature, another theme in the novel.…