Personal response Possibility of Evil

A Motive for Perfection The Possibility of Evil is a story written by Shirley Jackson, the main objective of the story was to expound upon the saying “look’s can be deceiving” . The writer creates a dynamic character that demonstrates there is a hidden agenda in every individual's mind. This storyline portrays the subversive scene of a puzzling 71 year old women. How she captivates the little town’s attention with an anonymous voice that “tells all” and implicates every misdemeanor of unsuspecting members who are caught in the limelight of gossip. Act’s of human prejudice’s can be found anywhere, even the most unlikely places where it is common human behaviour and when preconceptions of how things should be in one’s world is released, it can provoke others to make a change for the better or for the worse. In a democratic society where laws and moral decency govern our everyday life, it is hard to accept manipulation of a person with ulterior motives. Throughout the course of the storyline, the reader develops a knowledge about the main character, Miss Adela Strangeworth, the setting and the general feeling of mystery , deceit and cover up. The reader quickly understands the little old women is a perfectionist and intolerant to any behavior outside her narrow scope of reality and acceptance. Her family was a legacy in this town and people were drawn to her innocence and inherited stature. She was an elderly lady that kept herself prim and proper, her physical appearance being a mask of who she really was. As evidence is illustrated through the use of imagery. “Walking down main street on a summer morning, Miss Strangeworth had to stop every minute or so to say good morning to someone or
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to ask after someones health”. This evidence provides the reader with insight on how well known she was. To the people of her town, she appeared to be pleasant and kind, Behind her sweet innocent looks, Adela was lonely, bitter and afraid.