Miss Strangeworth Character Analysis in The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson

In Shirley Jackson’s, The Possibility of Evil, Miss Strangeworth possesses an unprecedented interest in preserving her town’s purity because she believes there is too much evil in the world; however, she contradicts her own values by spreading her town peoples’ business throughout the story while portraying a harmless and quite pleasant persona. Using new criticism, it can be revealed how easily evil can be hidden by deceptive charm. In this scene, Miss Strangeworth’s home is described with immense and peculiar detail. 

The illustration of evil is made apparent in the description of Miss Strangeworth’s home. When Miss Strangeworth’s home is described, the use of the word window symbolizes evil within her charming home. A window is supposed to illuminate darkness; therefore, the mention of her windows indicates an evil within her home. Miss Strangeworth writes her devious letters in the dark, where no one can see. Because windows illuminate darkness, Miss Strangeworth’s evil should be visible through a window, but something interferes with our sight. 

Sparkles are charming and often draw a lot of attention. Whose attention would not be drawn towards them? Miss Strangeworth’s sparkle is implied through her portrayal as a sweet and cordial old woman throughout the story. Although she may be seemingly pleasant, this sparkle is deceiving because she is not who she says she is. Because of this sparkle, Instead of seeing the evil within her home, we see the charming and charismatic facade she portrays when around others. Miss Strangeworth’s sparkle blocks and creates opposition to the prior mentioned window in which was supposed to illuminate all of her darkness. 

The use of the word every symbolizes Miss Strangeworth’s will to deceivingly cover all of her tracks. If Miss Strangeworth's every window sparkled, it is implied that she did not let any evil be blatantly visible. Those trying to cover their evil frequently are or feel threatened with being exposed. To illustrate her immense charm, the word every emphasizes her precision in covering every possibility of her evil from being seen. 

Through the main character’s camouflage of charm easily deceiving those around her, Jackson’s The Possibility of Evil, reveals using a new criticism perspective, how easily evil goes unnoticed when it is dressed in sublimity. “People around the town wondered how old Miss Strangeworth managed to keep the house looking the way it did . . .” (131-132).