The+Possibility+of+Evil

“The Possibility of Evil” (Shirley Jackson) Response Package

The setting of the story "The possibility of evil" feels like a town in the mid 1970s, with a grocery store, post office and a pleasant house on the outskirts of the town.
 * 1. Describe the Setting **

She is a wealthy woman in her 70s, living in luxury. But on the inside, she's a strict woman with quick judgement of others and the society around her.
 * 2. Describe/discuss the character of Miss Adela Strangeworth. **

Miss Strangeworth has lived in the town her entire life. Her grandfather built her own house, and was one of the first people to live in the town, which makes her feel like a person of power and importance in the town, almost like a monarch.
 * 3. How long has Miss Strangeworth lived in her town? Discuss her ties to the town and infer how this makes her feel about her position there. **

Miss Strangeworth's roses are extremely important to her. Her grandmother planted them, and to her, they represent the time that has passed, perfection, and home. //"The perfume of roses meant home, and home meant the Strangeworth house on Pleasant Street."//
 * 4. Discuss how the town’s visitors respond to Miss Strangeworth’s roses. Explain how she responds. **

The people in town treat miss Strangeworth with respect, but probably mainly because she is somewhat of a monarch in the town. She has lived there a very long time, and it was her family that planted roots in the town. But there is a sort of underlying dislike for her as well, because all though she might mean well, she's very straight forward, harsh and perfectionist.
 * 5. Explain how the people in town react and respond to Miss Strangeworth. What do you think their impression of her is? **

The relationship between Miss Strangeworth and Tommy Lewis dates back to their youth. The text describes their high school life together, and it sounds that they were quite close. Going to dances, classes, and basketball games together. But their relationship was shallow. When Tommy Lewis grew up and started work in the Grocery, you realize the friendship was only based on social class, because now she only visits him for business.
 * 6. Discuss the relationship between Tommy Lewis and Miss Strangeworth and explain how that relationship has changed over the years. Infer what might have been the basis of the relationship. Then explain how and why it changed. **

When Martha reaches in her pocketbook, Mrs Strangeworth notices her hand shaking. Proof of her age, but she thinks it is horrible and unhealthy, because to her any sort of change is evil. No matter if it is natural aging.
 * 7. Describe Ms. Harper as she reaches for her pocketbook. Explain what Mrs. Strangeworth thinks about Martha’s behavior. **

When Miss Strangeworth talks to Helen Crane, the conversation seems very relaxed. They were talking about Helen's new daughter, teasing her about how spoiled she was, and worrying about very motherly things. But on the other hand, her conversation with the librarian was business like, and not as friendly or as relaxed as the other one. But Miss Strangeworth later approaches her thoughts in her letters, stating that the child was probably mentally challenged, not at all like her other persona in the neighbourhood.
 * 8. Mrs. Strangeworth meets Helen Crane, the mother of a six month old infant, and Miss Chandler, the librarian. Discuss her interactions with them and her observations about them. **

//"But the town was proud of Miss Strangeworth and her roses and her house. They had all grown up together"// Miss Strangeworth has lived in the town her entire life. She has never left it, therefore getting to know all the townsfolk very well, and they are proud to have such an important "veteran" in the town.
 * 9. There is a revealing statement (p. 215) about how the town views Miss Strangeworth. Explain what that is and why. **

Miss Strangeworth owns two types of stationary. One of the papers she uses is light beige, with her family's name at the top in very delicate writing. The other, is a commonly used pack of papers in pink, green, blue and yellow colors that people all around the town would use for different things. (grocery lists, wrapping for penny candies, etc.) But miss Strangeworth uses them to write very harsh letters to people she knows, but in blockish, childish handwriting so no one can identify that it would come from her. //"She never got any answers, of course, because she never signed her name. If she had been asked, she would have said that her name, Adela Strangeworth, a name honored in the town for so many years, did not belong on such trash."//
 * 10. Explain the difference between the papers Miss Strangeworth uses to write letters. discuss the other ways in which these letters differ. **

Miss Strangeworth writes her letters to mostly inform others about things that she has seen, or overheard, or simply just thought. She justifies her actions by thinking that it is for the greater good, and that no one should have evil going around them unseen. But her letters are always brutally honest, straight to the point, and empty of any empathy or guilt for what she writes in them.
 * 11. Discuss the purpose of Miss Strangeworth’s letters. **

Miss Strangeworth doesn't necesarily lie, but over exagerates the truth in order to get her point across. She wants the "evil" to be stopped before it can even start, in a way.
 * 12. Why does Miss Strangeworth lie about the goings on in her town? **

Somehow, I see Miss Strangeworth thinking of herself as a sort of Police of Justice, as a martyr for her community, and as the most important member of it as well. She needs everyone to respect her, but she doesn't always respect others, and she wants every little thing in the town to be perfect and free of evil.
 * 13. Explain what Miss Strangeworth sees as her role in the community. **

After writing her letters, Miss Strangeworth seems very at ease in her home, relaxed and ready to resume her evening with regular things, like cooking dinner, napping, and reading. But her "gracious lifestyle" is nothing but a facade, for she lives in a home that is almost too big for her. For example, she describes a table in her dining room with room for twenty two. This is obviously not gracious, and more suited for a queen.
 * 14. After finishing the letters, Miss Strangeworth sets down to tea. discuss the irony of her thoughts after writing the letters. Explain Miss Strangeworth’s idea of “living graciously” (218). Then, prove that she is not. **

Miss Strangeworth would never assume the children of laughing or saying bad things about her, because she is highly respected in the community. She even thinks in the story, that the parents would be ashamed to learn that her children were mocking her. This is proof that Miss Strangeworth thinks extremely highly of herself, and feels like she is almost the queen of the town, ready to execute anyone that would bring dishonour to her or her name.
 * 15. Explain why Miss Strangeworth never suspects the children of laughing or mocking. What does this prove about her opinion of herself. **

The conversation between Dave and Linda is very heated. From what we readers can tell, it is saying that Dave Harris has done something quite scandalous, and Linda's parents have somehow become aware of it and forbade their daughter from seeing him. Miss Strangeworth's involvement is evident in this because, who else would pass around information like this? She made it purposefully scandalous and horrible to make sure that they would never want to be with eachother again.
 * 16. Miss Strangeworth overhears a conversation between Dave Harris and Linda Stewart. Discuss the content of the conversation and explain Miss Strangeworth’s role in it. **

The evil Miss Strangeworth feels is no doubt the change she sees in the town. She is reluctant to admit that time is moving, and people are changing in ways that she does not agree with. These things are all natural in the course of life, even though they are unpleasant.
 * 17. Miss Strangeworth thinks that there is “so much evil in people. Even in a charming little town like this one” (220). Explain what the evil is. **

When Miss Strangeworth went to deliver her letters, she accidentally dropped one on the ground, as it was going into the slot. Dave Harris realizes her mistake, and goes to pick it up and deliver it to Don Crane, fully acknowledging that is was miss Strangeworth who had dropped the letter. The next day, Miss Strangeworth finds her roses mutilated and ruined, roses that were so important to her.
 * 18. Explain how the townspeople discover Miss Strangeworth’s role in the letters being sent to citizens. How do they get Miss Strangeworth back? **

"She began to cry silently for the wickedness of the world when she read the words: //Look at what used to be your roses."//
 * 19. Examine the last __ sentence __ of the story. How does Miss Strangeworth view her punishment? How does she view what she has done? Explain the irony of this. **

Miss Strangeworth doesn't actually realize that this was meant to punish her for her letters, but instead assumes that this was the world's evil trying to get back at her for her efforts at stopping it. The irony is in the way that the letter was written. In her style, with a harsh, directness that made her feel the way others did when they read her's.

A comprehensive group of responses to the questions that display a solid understanding of the story. Well Done. 20/20


 * 20. Draw a detailed map, from an overhead perspective, of the town illustrated in the story. **

Include:

The name of the town. Main Street The Grocery Pleasant St. Miss Strangeworth’s House Shanties on the low road Park Post Office Church Lumber Mill High School Library Soda Shop Newspaper Shop The Stewart House City Hall The Police Station The Fire Hall

The map needs to make sense according to the description given in the story. The map should be neat with all the landmarks clearly labeled. The map should be visually interesting.