A discussion of the character traits of a fictitious elderly woman named Miss Strangeworth will occu
r in this character sketch. Miss Strangeworth was an elderly woman, who was representative of her t
own?s history. She led a quiet public life, and was on friendly terms with most residents of her to
wn. Unknown to these residents, Miss Strangeworth lived a double life. She was a friendly, grandmo
therly figure in public; however, when she was out of the public?s eye, she became the author of uns
ettling letters based on assumptions. Proof will be provided from The Possibility of Evil that Miss
Strangeworth possessed the character traits of self-consciousness, discreetness, and self-righteous
ness.
Miss Strangeworth was self-conscious, which a character trait that a great deal of people can
identify with. An example of Miss Strangeworth?s self-consciousness can be found in the last parag
raph on page 225 that concludes on page 226. Miss Strangeworth had been writing a letter to the Cra
nes about their baby child. Upon the completion of the letter, the following narration illustrated
Miss Strangeworth?s actions with faulty letters, ?She was pleased with the letter about the Crane ba
by. She was fond of doing things exactly right. When she made a mistake, as she sometimes did, she
took the page to the kitchen stove and burned it at once? (225-226). One might think that this cl
early proves Miss Strangeworth?s self-consciousness, because she burned any faulty letters. This ca
n be interpreted as an action to mask failure, as nobody could possibly obtain the faulty letter wit
hout Miss Strangeworth delivering it to them. Miss Strangeworth was masking her failures from herse
lf, which may better be summed up as self-denial. Miss Strangeworth?s self-consciousness allows for
one to identify with her, because many people have exhibited actions of self-consciousness or selfdenial when they made a mistake.
In addition to allowing for identification with Miss Strangeworth
through her self-consciousness, one might view Miss Strangeworth as being discreet. Evidence of Mis
s Strangeworth?s discreetness can be found in the second paragraph on page 227. Miss Strangeworth
had completed the writing of her letters and was on her walk to deliver them. The following quotati
on
strates Miss Strangeworth?s discreetness, ?She had always made a point of mailing her letter
s very secretly. Consequently, she timed her walk so she could reach the post office just as darkne
ss was starting to dim the outlines of the trees and the shapes of people?s faces? (227). This clea
rly illustrates Miss Strangeworth?s discreetness, because as one might observe, she tried to avoid r
ecognition by arriving at the post office when darkness fell. Also, the word ?secretly? is used, wh
ich would suggest that discreet is also applicable for describing her actions. Miss Strangeworth?s
discreetness may allow for somebody to comprehend how important keeping her letter-writing identity
a secret, was to Miss Strangeworth.
Finally, Miss Strangeworth?s discreetness allowing for one to c
omprehend how important keeping her letter-writing identity a secret was to Miss Strangeworth, Miss
Strangeworth?s self-righteousness grabbed the reader?s interest. Evidence of Miss Strangeworth?s se
lf-righteousness can be found in the second paragraph on page 226. Miss Strangeworth had completed
a letter addressed to Mrs. Harper. Upon the completion of this letter, Miss Strangeworth?s self-ide
ntified worth to her town was described in the following quote, ?There were so many wicked people in
the world and only one Miss Strangeworth left in the town?(226). This exposed Miss Strangeworth?s
self-righteousness, because it tried to justify her overly harsh letters with what she saw as a pos
itive outcome. She thought she was helping her town immensely by spreading what amounted to unfound
ed ours. This self-righteousness made the reader profoundly dissatisfied with the main character
, and planted a wish for ill-will against Miss Strangeworth in the reader?s heart.
It was proven al
most certainly, that Miss Strangeworth possessed the character traits of self-consciousness, discree
tness, and self-righteousness in The Possibility of Evil. Miss Strangeworth may be fictitious, but
people like her are always existent in society. As society ages, we can only hope its values and pr
inciples evolve to lessen the number of Miss Strangeworth?s to be found in the world.
Works Cited
Jackson, Shirley. The Possibility of Evil.discussion character traits fictit
ious elderly woman named miss strangeworth will occur this character sketch miss strangeworth elderl
y woman representative town history quiet public life friendly terms with most residents town unknow
n these residents miss strangeworth lived double life friendly grandmotherly figure public however w
hen public became author unsettling letters based assumptions proof will provided from possibility e
vil that possessed character traits self consciousness discreetness self righteousness self consciou
s which trait that great deal people identify with example consciousness found last paragraph page t
hat concludes page been writing letter cranes about their baby child upon completion letter followin
g narration illustrated actions with faulty letters pleased letter about crane baby fond doing thing
s exactly right when made mistake sometimes took page kitchen stove burned once might think this cle
arly proves consciousness because burned faulty letters this interpreted action mask failure nobody
could possibly obtain faulty without delivering them masking failures from herself which better summ
ed denial allows identify because many people have exhibited actions denial when they made mistake a
ddition allowing identification through might view being discreet evidence discreetness found second
paragraph completed writing walk deliver them following quotation strates discreetness always made
point mailing very secretly consequently timed walk could reach post office just darkness starting o
utlines trees shapes people faces clearly illustrates because might observe tried avoid recognition
arriving post office darkness fell also word secretly used which would suggest discreet also applica
ble describing actions allow somebody comprehend important keeping writing identity secret finally a
llowing comprehend important keeping identity secret righteousness grabbed reader interest evidence
righteousness found second paragraph completed addressed harper upon completion identified worth tow
n described following quote there were many wicked world only left exposed tried justify overly hars
h what positive outcome thought helping immensely spreading what amounted unfounded ours reader prof
oundly dissatisfied main planted wish will against reader heart proven almost certainly possessed tr
aits possibility evil fictitious like always existent society society ages only hope values principl
es evolve lessen number world works cited jackson shirley possibility evilEssay, essays, termpaper,
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