Miss Strangeworth In The Possibility Of Evil By Shirley Jackson

“She knew everyone in town, of course; she was fond of telling strangers -- tourists who sometimes passed through the town and stopped to admire Miss Strangeworth’s roses -- that she had never spent more than a day outside this town in all her long life.” Miss Strangeworth, the main character in “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson, is the main source of conflict in this story. “The Possibility of Evil” shows how much of a difference one person can make. “The Possibility of Evil” should be read every year in this 9th grade class.
For example, Miss Strangeworth needs the town to be exactly as she wants it, in a uniform way, which adds to the whole of the story. For instance, she claims that she is the one that is running the town. She has this idea because she thinks her grandfather created the town. In fact, Miss Strangeworth is very protective over her roses. “Miss Strangeworth never gave away any of her roses, although the tourists often asked her. The roses belonged on Pleasant Street, and it bothered Miss Strangeworth to think of people wanting to carry them away, to take them into strange towns and strange streets.” Miss Strangeworth is this way about her roses because they have a

sentimental value because her grandmother planted them. It shows how much she values things in her life. Additionally, Miss Strangeworth’s feelings toward the residents of the town are two-faced. On the streets and around town she acts very prim and polite, but when she goes home she writes criticizing letters using the claim that she is helping them. The sense of uniformity of the town makes Miss Strangeworth obsessive.
Furthermore, the plot build up in “The Possibility of Evil” adds to the quality of the short story. While the plot is building, the suspense increases along with it. “Miss Strangeworth is a familiar fixture in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Little do the townsfolk suspect, though, that the dignified old woman leads another, secret life…” Foreshadowing is how the author gives off the sense of uncertainty. The author is hinting at something that the lady does but they do not know what. This grabs the reader’s attention by creating a sense of suspicion toward this, “dignified old woman.” This happens because of pure curiosity, and how the author explains in detail. Although there are many aspects to the story, the plot makes the people perceptive. Right from the start, the story gives details that might trigger an opinion based on the way Miss Strangeworth acts. More specifically, the major plot twists along the way are entertaining. One of the many plot twists is finding out that Miss Strangeworth is not the nice lady that everyone thinks she is. This is due to the careless actions of Miss Strangeworth. Nevertheless, the building of the plot is captivating and cultivating.
For another example, the author of “The Possibility of Evil” used vivid imagery.

Specifically, descriptive words enhance the effect of imagery. “The sun was shining, the air was fresh and clear after the night’s heavy rain, and everything in Miss Strangeworth’s little town looked washed and bright.” The words fresh and clear create a sense of life in the story, by describing what is happening in more detail. Again, the descriptive words of imagery creates a visual representation. It makes an image appear by making the words appeal to your senses. Furthermore, the imagery makes the story more interesting. Imagery is a way that sets the scene or mood. It also shows how the characters view the world. Nonetheless, imagery amplifies the quality of “The Possibility of

Evil.”
“The Possibility of Evil” should continue to be read in Ms. Green’s 9th grade class. Descriptive wording used in the story keeps it interesting. Foreshadowing creates a great deal of suspense that makes the reader want to know what happens next. This admirable story should be long lived.