The Importance Of Look In The Possibility Of Evil By Shirley Jackson

Throughout the Possibility of Evil the theme is clearly shown as looks can be deceiving. On the other hand, some people might interpret that the theme is that you should treat others as they treat you. However it’s only at the end when the townspeople figure out that she is the one sending the letters which shows that karma only comes into play at the end of the story, while the looks can be deceiving is shown throughout the whole story. By showing Miss Strangeworth as a gentle old lady at first and then slowly showing her true colors, Shirley Jackson illustrates the theme that looks can be deceiving.
Throughout the story Shirley Jackson makes it clear that the main focus of the story is to not judge someone based on how they look and act. She shows this mainly by portraying Miss Strangeworth as harmless old women at first, then slowly showing Miss Strangeworth's true colors. I think she wrote this story to help teach children the importance of not judging people based on how they look or act around others. As the author starts introducing the nasty letters and makes it clear that Miss. Strangeworth thinks she’s doing it to help better everyone. I believe that by doing this she’s trying to introduce to readers that you never know what exactly another person is cable of, which ties into the theme that looks can be deceiving.

While it could be said that the theme of the story is to treat others as you want to be treated, it’s not really the focus of the story. Although the ending may make people think the theme is to treat others as you want to be treated it’s only at the end that the author has the villagers getting back at her, while throughout the story Miss Strangeworth is shown living a double life and getting away with it. By showing that behind closed doors Miss Strangeworth believes that she is the only one who can stamp out the evil in people. I assume that the author does this to show that you can never truly trust anyone. Miss Strangeworth grew up there and all of the townsfolk trusted her, but she believed herself above them and betrayed their trust by sending them nasty letters.
By, adding Miss strangeworth’s thoughts on how she believed she was helping stamp out the evil in the town it really shows that Miss Strangeworth is not how she portrays herself to the townsfolk. Which is another way for Shirley to show that the theme is looks can be deceiving. For example on page 2 paragraph 2 Miss Strangeworth tells Helen “All babies are different. some of them develop much more quickly than others.” Miss Strangeworth portrays herself as a kindly old lady to the townsfolk so they won’t think that she’s the one writing the nasty letters. In contrast to her earlier statement in one of her nasty letters on page 4 paragraph 2 Miss Strangeworth writes “Didn’t you ever see an idiot child before? Some people just shouldn’t have children should they?”. Which reveals her true thoughts on the matter.
Shirley Jackson author of the Possibility of Evil shows throughout the story that the theme is looks can be deceiving.

She shows it through the way Miss Strangeworth acts around the townspeople Then Shirly shows Miss Strangeworth's true thoughts in the nasty letters Miss Strangeworth writes and how Miss strangeworth believes that she is above all of other townspeople. While some readers think the theme is that you should treat others as you want to be treated, it only comes into play at the end when the townsfolk find out she’s the one who sends the nasty letters. That is why I think the theme of The Possibility of Evil is looks can be

deceiving.