Friday, October 12, 2007

Zhi's Group for October 17 Work

Post answers here for questions chosen for "The Possibility of Evil." Group members: Jane and Keri.
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4 comments:

KERI said...

Theme: What image of mankind emerges from the work?
In the small town “where everyone knows everyone else,” Miss Strangeworth is almost respected by everyone. “The town is proud of Miss Strangerworth and her roses and her house.” However, there are always many unexpected things behind these beautiful things. The bossy old lady often thinks “the town belongs to her because her grandfather built the first house on the Pleasant Street.” In order to keep her town “clean and sweet”, all the time, she watches “her town” and critics “her people”. Once she finds something “lustful and evil”, she always thinks “it’s her duty to keep her town alert to it”. Therefore, she ceaselessly writes many anonymous notes to let “her people open their eyes”. In fact, Miss Strangerworth “never concerned herself with facts.” She just is a kind of evil, and she doesn’t want people to feel good. She can thinks out many plots to disturb other people’s normal lives. Thus, all things have been under her control “for the past years,” However, the paper can’t cover the fire, the old lady eventually lose control of her secret. Ironically, this time, she gets one notes from other people and is warned “look out at what used to be your roses.” She begins to “cry silently for the wickedness of the world”. She deserves what she should get. From the fiction, Shirley gives us indication: evil is usually behind a beautiful veil.

October 16, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Zhi said...

Question: Why does the author create this atmosphere?

In the story “THE POSSIBILITY OF EVIL”, Jackson gives us a vivid setting description. There is a peaceful small town “where everyone knows everyone.” On the fragrant summer day, “the air is fresh and clear.” Miss Strangeworth, an old lady whose family has a close and long relative with the town and a good reputation, lives in a house “with the red and pink and white roses massed;” the house likes as a “local museum,” and Miss Strangeworth likes an owner of the town. Just in this graceful environment, Miss Strangeworth has been writing anonymous letters to blame and criticise her neighbours for many years. This secret action, eventually, is explored by a letter Miss Strangeworth missed dropping on the ground. The beautiful and respectful atmosphere strongly contrasts with the old lady’s deed. It is sure that Jackson wants readers to believable that Miss Strangeworth is evil.

October 16, 2007 at 6:00 PM
Zhi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
October 16, 2007 at 6:01 PM
Jane said...

What are the moral conflicts present in the work?

In "The possibility of evil," a moral conflict is present. Miss Strangeworth lives a double life. She is a friendly, grandmotherly in public. However when she is out of the public's eyes, she writes anonymous letters and malicious notes to various people such as "is the wife really always the last to know?" Therefore, Miss Strangeworth is an evil woman who wants people to follow her. She makes problems to solve problems. She points out fault of others in order to maintain her status, not to create a better community. In the end, she receives a note from other people, which is "look out at what used to be your roses." She acquires retribution. In a word, the conflict is clear, and we get a clue which is evil under sunshine.

October 16, 2007 at 10:09 PM

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