Miss Strangeworth greets everyone she meets as a way to maintain her façade of being a kind and caring member of her small town community. This behavior allows her to gather information about others, which she later uses to craft her malicious letters, believing it is her duty to protect the town from perceived moral decay. Her seemingly friendly interactions mask her true nature and intentions, highlighting the contrast between her public persona and private actions.
She was 71 years old.
over a hundred years
Judgemental, or pessimistic.
Miss Strangeworth is a static character because she does not undergo any significant changes or growth throughout the story. She remains steadfast in her belief that it is her duty to protect her town from what she views as immorality. Despite the events that unfold, such as her letter being found and exposed to the townspeople, Miss Strangeworth's mindset and actions remain consistent.
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.
Miss Strangeworth believes that human nature is inherently flawed and capable of great evil. She sees people as deceitful, hypocritical, and prone to causing harm to others. This belief influences her actions and motives in the story.
Miss Strangeworth is a static character in "The Possibility of Evil" as she remains largely unchanged throughout the story. She maintains her self-righteous attitude and malicious behavior without experiencing significant personal growth or change.
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.
In the third letter Miss Strangeworth wrote in "The Possibility of Evil," she addresses a woman who she believes is neglecting her children, suggesting that the woman's behavior may lead to their moral decline. Miss Strangeworth feels justified in her actions, seeing herself as a guardian of the town's morality. Her letters reflect her misguided sense of duty and control over the lives of others, ultimately revealing her own flaws and the impact of her interference.
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.
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 is a fictional character from Shirley Jackson's short story "Miss Strangeworth's Letters." She is an elderly woman living in a small town who takes it upon herself to write anonymous letters to her neighbors, criticizing their perceived moral failings. Her actions reveal her deep-seated belief in maintaining the town's moral integrity, but they also expose her own hypocrisy and isolation. Ultimately, her letters lead to unintended consequences that highlight the complexities of human nature and community.