Analysis Of Miss Adela Strangeworth In Shirley Jackson's The Possibility Of Evil

The setting in “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” continues to convey the theme that women have been oppressed by society. Mabel faces oppression in the small english town where the story takes place. She explains that being a women does not matter as much when a family has money, but when they are poor she has to walk down the streets with her eyes low and avoid eye contact as she buys the cheapest item in every store (Lawrence 458). This shows that when a woman is seen as being represented by someone with power, in this case it is her father, then they are given a little respect. However, when a women is looked at just as herself and not as a rich man’s daughter she is not seen a colleague to men but as an object that is to be pitied.

In the short story “The Possibility of Evil” written by Shirley Jackson the main protagonist, Miss Adela Strangeworth demonstrates multiple traits of her complex personality through her actions, thoughts and the way she communicates. A couple of these traits that are significant to her character are insensitivity and masquerading. Imagine an insanely insensitive person who does not care how others feel. Miss Stangeworth’s unpleasant letters advocate her observations rather than facts or feelings. In a letter she writes anonymously to the Crane family saying “DIDN’T YOU EVER SEE AN IDIOT CHILD BEFORE?

She only went to school for a few years because she had to take care of her family, so Mayella’s opportunity to learn the proper ways of a woman vanished. She never learned moral values like telling the truth, and was never treated with respect. When she was being called “ma’am” in court, she accused Atticus of making fun of her, but if she stayed in school she would have known that is how to properly address others. The flowers in Mayella’s garden symbolize how she needs beauty in her ugly life, and how caring is a positive thing, but sometimes no matter how hard you try hard, the things you care about will still die (like her relationship with Tom Robinson). Mayella grew up with an abusive father, so she never learns how actions can have consequences.

At the beginning of the novel, Curley’s wife is often seen as a floozy rather than a nice girl. Firstly, Curley’s wife is presented as a floozy and threat to anyone on the ranch. This is shown when Candy describes her to George and Lennie as “a bitch” who “got the eye.” This is interesting because George and Lennie haven’t even met her yet but instantly draw conclusions on how they feel towards her. Curley’s wife being the boss’ daughter in law should be treated with respect and dignity because of the power she holds, however, because of the ranch hands description of her, we as readers can tell she holds no authority. At this moment the reader is unaware of why but later discovers the social prejudices that plague the ranch.

However, while she was sleepwalking she never said she was sorry for what she did. So, she is still evil, because towards the end she started to state that there is no going back and that they are not safe anymore, she says “Nothing’s gained, all’s lost, when a wish fulfilled brings no contentment….What can’t be cured has to be endured. What’s done is done” (III, ii, 4-12). Lady Macbeth is still evil, no matter what she does. Lady Macbeth’s cruel and dark natures carried her through even though she wasn't happy.

Mildred’s constant addiction to gadgets represents her denial towards her problems and the little desire she has towards a better life. Her ignorance is another of her great weaknesses since she lives in a world where her feelings don’t matter and is easily influenced by tv and propaganda which explains her obsess towards hair dye and a soap opera family, even when Guy tries to talk to her all she seems able to talk about is her “family”, he tries to talk to her into reading some of the books he has found but she’s just worried that Captain Beatty might show up and “burn the house and the ‘family’” and asks him “why should I read?” “what for?” (34, Bradbury). Mildred doesn’t understand what she’s feeling and therefore prefers little amounts of superficial happiness that only give her joy for a little while, instead of reading and exterminating her ignorance because she’s too afraid to understand what is really happening inside of

O’Connor also carefully draws out her characters. O’Connor made the Grandmother a women so that any reader felt lower than and feel below in authority. The grandmother is shown as a pushy woman with characteristics of selfishness. These characteristics show when she insisted on going to the old house. When she realized that Bailey was not too keen on the idea, she made up a story about treasure to get the kid’s to help beg their dad.

She realizes this implicitly by saying that people “would never have been aware of possible evil lurking nearby if Miss Strangeworth had not sent them a letter” (Jackson 226). She knows that she has to stave off evil and it was her “duty to keep her own town alert to it” (Jackson 226). This shows how she justifies her evil action, by claiming that she is protecting the townspeople from any evil that comes their way. Miss Strangeworth believes that if she does not write her letters to her fellow townspeople then the town will succumb to evil. Miss Strangeworth’s vision for her town is to be evil-less and the only way to accomplish this is if she writes letters to them even though the letters are hurtful and contain

As the narrator is a member of town so, the tone is more of a pity than emotional. One can also say the tone is that of a confession because after killing Hommer, Emily's confession gains her sympathy from the town members after all that happens to her. The title of the story is ironic because Emily has seen difficulties in her life and no happiness. In contrast, the tone of the narrator is that of anger, exasperation, and disappointment in "Sweat". Delia's struggle to run the house, doing the job of washwoman, and even then, her husband beats her and cheats on her is kind of depressing.

The grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, which name remains unknown throughout the story, is portrayed as a manipulator and exceedingly puts her family in a life or death situation. This grandmother is proven to be unsympathetic with the use of manipulation, sneakiness, dishonesty, and unconcerned with her family’s well-being. Throughout the beginning of the short story, the grandmother begins to show manipulation and sneakiness. She wants everything to be her way and to achieve that,

The Possibility of Evil Miss Strangeworth got what she deserved. She hurt the people that she sent the letters to. So the people got revenge but cutting down her precious roses. Miss Strangeworth seems to be a sweet innocent old lady that loves her roses but at night she went incognito to write and deliver hate letters to the people in town telling them different things that are very offending and causes a lot of controversy in the town. Miss Strangeworth family has lived on pleasant street for generation.