In “The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson‚ Ms. Strangeworth stops her town from becoming evil by writing anonymous letters. The overall theme of the story is everything is not what it seems. Jackson utilizes the story to show how a person may not seem like the person you thought they were. Ms. Strangeworth appears to be a sweet old lady‚ but is she really? Throughout the story her true colors begin to reveal. Jackson develops this central idea through the use of irony. Through all three types
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“The Possibility of Evil”‚ is a story written by Shirley Jackson‚ which includes many examples of irony within the short story. It contains three types of irony. They include Dramatic‚ Verbal‚ and Situational Irony. The definition of irony as a whole is language which usually means the opposite for a humorous or emphatic effect. It can be when the reader knows more than the characters‚ a person says something and they really mean the opposite‚ or the story goes another way than intended. All of these
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The Possibility of Evil The Possibility of Evil is full of literary devices. The one that is mostly used throughout this short story is irony. A lot of things that appear to be one way‚ turn out to be another.This story leaves a feeling as if everyone can be evil… To portray this feeling the author uses three various types of irony; situational‚ dramatic and verbal. Dramatic irony plays a big part in what makes this story interesting to the readers. In the short-story it says "she was fond
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Irony is a strategy writers use to set contrast between what is supposed to be true and what is reality‚ just as in verbal irony‚ an author might say or write one thing and at the same time mean the complete opposite. In the story by Frank R. Stockton "The Lady‚ or the Tiger?" the author used verbal irony to help us realize the absurdity of the king’s idea of judgment and the real intentions and ideas of other characters. Several ironic statements are presented in the story. Sentence fragments such
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September 19‚ 2002 "Evil: A Host of Happiness" In the short stories "A Rose For Emily‚" by William Faulkner and "The Possibility of Evil‚" by Shirley Jackson both authors create similar characters and settings that illustrate daring images of evil. Both Emily Grierson and Adela Strangeworth are women who share similar characteristics yet pose completely different motives. Their stories take place in close-knit towns‚ which play essential roles in their motives for evil. Emily Grierson and
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In your personal opinion‚ is Adela Strangeworth inherently evil or was evil something that was socially constructed within her as a person? Explain. In the short story “The Possibility of Evil‚” Adela Strangeworth is made out to be a sweet innocent old lady living a perfect life. Everyone in her town seems to think that Adela is just some old lady who is really friendly and who cares for her neighbors. In reality‚ she walks around town acting like she is perfect and then goes home and writes
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In “The Possibility of Evil” The main character Mrs. Strangeworth shows one personality and keeps the other private. The one she shows gets others people impression as a kind and respected old lady. Mrs. Strangeworth’s private personality was very rude and disrespectful. The author uses characterization to show two sides of Mrs. Strangeworth’s personality. Mrs. Strangeworth’s public personality was like her beautiful rose house. Everyone in town everyone around the neighborhood would greet her wherever
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The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson is about an elderly lady named Ms Strangeworth‚ who believes that it is her responsibility to keep her town from ‘evil’. Ms Strangeworth tends to her roses daily‚ making sure they are as perfect as they could be. However never letting anyone take them; saying they “belong on Pleasant Street”. After completing a few errands‚ Ms Strangeworth finds herself in a conversation with Helen Crane: a newly wed woman with a six-month old baby. They speak a few minutes
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When the hurly-burly’s done‚ When the battle’s lost and won. Second witch to others We’ll meet when the noise of the war is over‚ when one side has won and the other side has lost. Control the mood of the story Is this a dagger which I see before me‚ The handle toward my hand? Come‚ let me clutch thee: Macbeth to himself Do I see a knife in front of me‚ with its handle pointing upon my fingers? Come‚ let me hold you. He is going to kill the key by the dagger. ( foreshadowing)
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theme of “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is how someone seems on the outside‚ is not necessarily how they are on the inside. This is shown through the author’s use of irony‚ symbolism‚ and characterization. Irony was used in the story to show how looks can be deceiving because one’s outside appearance and one’s authentic self can be two very different things. Miss Strangeworth claims that she believes she is doing the right thing‚ when in reality she is creating the evil that she is
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