Miss Strangeworth writes her letters as a way to uphold her sense of moral duty and maintain the purity of her town by pointing out flaws she perceives in her neighbors. She believes she is helping to preserve the community's values, but her actions reveal her own warped sense of righteousness and lack of empathy.
Miss Strangeworth uses anonymous letters to subtly warn people about the possibility of evil in the town by dropping hints and insinuations in her correspondence. She believes that by sending these letters, she is fulfilling her duty to protect her community from potential harm.
The climax of "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson occurs when Miss Strangeworth receives a letter warning her about someone who knows her dark secret and threatens to reveal it. This revelation causes Miss Strangeworth to confront her own actions and the repercussions of her behavior.
Miss Strangeworth has been writing her anonymous, critical letters for many years, as it has become a habit or compulsion for her to "cleanse" her town of what she perceives as evil or moral degradation. Her family has passed down the task to her after her grandmother, so it has likely been going on for generations.
Miss Strangeworth is a crazy old lady who thinks that she is almost god-like. She may believe that what she is doing helps the people and lets them know what they are doing wrong with their lives. She has no actual reason for why she does what she does though.
In the story "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson, hints at Miss Strangeworth's secret include her obsession with writing anonymous letters, her particular interest in the moral conduct and private lives of her neighbors, and her extreme focus on maintaining the town's appearance of harmony and purity. These details foreshadow the revelation that Miss Strangeworth is the one spreading malicious gossip through her letters.
Miss Strangeworth deceives the townspeople by secretly sending them poison pen letters disguised as friendly and helpful notes. This creates suspicion and unease among the townspeople, leading them to doubt each other and question their relationships with one another.
Miss Strangeworth makes the mistake of leaving a letter in her own mailbox, addressed to the parents of her intended victim, which reveals her identity as the author of malicious anonymous letters. This mistake ends up exposing her secret activities and the impact of her actions on the townspeople.
Miss Strangeworth observes people with a critical and judgmental eye, often focusing on their flaws and weaknesses. She believes she has a duty to uncover and expose these imperfections for the betterment of the community, leading her to send anonymous letters that she believes will prompt self-reflection and change in those around her.
She was 71 years old.
People in town generally view Miss Strangeworth as a respected, albeit eccentric, member of the community. She is often seen as a pillar of the town due to her longstanding family history, but there are also whispers about her peculiar behavior and some are wary of her secretive nature.
over a hundred years
"The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson is told from a third-person limited point of view, focusing on protagonist Miss Strangeworth's perspective. If told from a different point of view, such as from the perspective of one of the townspeople receiving Miss Strangeworth's letters, the story would offer insight into their reactions and emotions, providing a contrasting view of Miss Strangeworth's actions and the impact they have on the community.