Shirley Jackson’s Stories Shirley Jackson’s stories The Possibility of Evil and The Lottery are full of literary structural elements. Many authors use structural elements while creating a purpose and meaning while writing. Structural elements are used as a template in writing to help the reader better understand the nuances of the story. In other words, by giving the reader structural elements it helps create a foundation for the writing of the story. Not only do the majority of authors…
“The Possibility of Evil” a short story written by Shirley Jackson describes the protagonist, Miss Adela Strangeworth, as “knowing everyone in town.” On the other hand “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty explains a journey taken by an old Negro woman named Phoenix Jackson who was the story’s protagonist. In both these short stories the author purposefully uses a non-participating narrator to help the readers understand the story by developing a detailed setting and not allowing the readers to…
been converted to dramas because of their unexpected story lines. Years after publication, Jackson’s stories are still considered some of the greatest works in American literature. Throughout Shirley Jackson’s short stories “The Lottery”, “The Possibility of Evil”, and “Charles”, there are grim plot twists at the end of the stories that make the reader realize the real meaning of the story.…
In the story “The Possibility of Evil,” Miss Strangeworth seems to be a simple, old lady, who has her set routine and never seems to alter from it. For generations her family has lived in that same house that their grandfather built over 100 years ago. Her grandmother had planted those roses that are her pride possession, and her mother cared for them just like she does everyday. As the story progressed, Miss Strangeworth becomes a complex character. The entire story is actually about the…
¨The Possibility of Evil¨ by Shirley Jackson, the protagonist and main character, Miss Strangeworth, exemplifies five character qualities that creates interest for the reader. The overall desire of a character is essentially what paves the future events of a storyline. In this story specifically, Miss Strangeworth's desire is profound until the end nears. Additionally, a character's contrast, ability to change, consistency, and complexity are found in multiple references in ¨The Possibility of…
Study Questions: 1. What is the difference between logical possibility and physical possibility? Logical possibility is anything that follows the laws of logic. These are laws that determine what is real, and what is not. For a situation to be logically possible, it also has to follow the law of non-contradictory. This law states that nothing can be both be at the same time and event. For example, time travelling is logically impossible because no one can be at the present and the future at…
Strangeworth There will always be evil things in the world. Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Possibility of Evil” is an ironic story about an old lady. Mrs. Strangeworth is an old lady that appears to be nice and friendly to everyone but has a secret. Mrs. Strangeworth’s character can be analyzed by considering what she does, what the narrator says about her, and how other characters interact with her. Mrs. Strangeworth’s character can be analyzed by what the narrator says about her; she is…
Huey Newton once said, “ I think what motivates people is not great hate, but great love for other people.” Shirley Jackson disagreed however. In her short story, The Possibility of Evil, Miss Strangeworth was motivated by her great hate of other people and great love for herself. (transition) Miss Strangeworth was an old woman in a pleasant small town, who wanted everything to be perfect, with no wickedness, and where “people live graciously,” and she thought that was her duty to accomplish.…
evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” In society there are many bystanders of bullying. Many people say the bystanders are as harmful as the bullies. This is shown through the words of Shirley Jackson in the story “The Possibility of Evil”. The main character, Adela Strangeworth, tries to make the town she lives in the perfect place. She does this by telling everyone else what they are doing wrong and how their life is messed up. In twisted way, she is the bully; she…
In “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson, Mrs. Strangeworth, whose grandfather built the town, is the last Strangeworth in town and feels like she has to protect everything in it. The author makes Mrs. Strangeworth sound like a believable person. The author makes the readers feel like Mrs. Strangeworth is nice by explaining how nice her flowers are and how much she loves her roses, by saying the she says hi to everybody, and by telling that she is the last Strangeworth in town and has to…