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Comparing Evil And The Truman Show

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“The Possibility of Evil” and “The Truman Show” both explore how humane morals are easily traded for conniving manipulation until it backfires. In “The Possibility of Evil” the protagonist Ms.Strangeworth has absolutely no problem causing problems in other people’s lives when she sends them letters revealing secrets that are being hidden from them. This control she felt was easily done without regret until she got caught and someone attacked one of her prized possessions. In “The Truman Show” Christof feels no sympathy towards the human being he imprisoned in a made up world turned television show until that person finds out his whole life has been a lie. The main character then leaves the show and while he walks into the world, the director loses his entries life’s work. His plan absolutely backfires and only after the protagonist walks off the show does he realize what a mistake he’s made. In “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson, the protagonist’s ignorance to the negative impacts she makes in her community backfire on her. When Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street send out letters to the people of her town, she makes snide, rude and unwittingly passive-aggressive remarks. These little notes make them question their life choices and causes the people to become confused and upset about the information they receive. For example when she sent a letter to a lady suggesting that her …show more content…

In both of these storylines, characters get their sense of power from the manipulation they use to obtain a form of control over others. When this power is abused and good, humane morals or forgotten, in turn, it backfires on the person who feels that control. The backfire is an indirect consequence of the power holder ignoring the manipulation they induce on

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