"The Possibility of Evil," by Shirley Jackson

Biography of the Author:

          Shirley Jackson was born and lived in 1916, and lived to 1965. She lived to only 48 due to complications from obesity and heavy smoking. During her relatively short lifetime she wrote many novels and short stories, most either classified in the mystery or horror genre.
          She graduated from Syracuse University in 1940 with a BA in English, and there she met her future husband Stanley Hyman, who would become a well-respected literary critic, and often edited Jackson's work for her. Possibly her most famous novel was "The Haunting of Hill House," which inspired many of today's most prominent novelists, including Stephen King.

Response:

i) Why do you think the author wrote the text?

A: I believe the author wrote the text to show that revealing stones better left unturned often has disastrous consequences for those 'turning the stones.' AKA, placing themselves in other people's lives and destroying them. 

ii) What does the author want you to think?
A: The author wants the reader to be almost disgusted with Miss Strangeworth and her apparent lack of morality, and how her two motives in life seem to be either benign or malicious. 

iii) Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?
A: No, although I would be among the average citizens who may receive Miss Strangeworth's letters periodically if I lived in that town. 

iv) Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?
A: No, I have no real-life events I know about that compare. 

v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?
A: I have not read a book nor seen a movie which describes similar conditions.

vi) How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?
A: The story is obviously centred around these issues, and one of the social issues in the story is the way Miss Strangeworth harasses her neighbours with what is basically repeated gossip portrayed as the truth. The social justice in the story is the culmination of events that end with the destruction of Miss Strangeworth's roses in retaliation to her wanton destruction of so many families and friendships. 

vii) What action might you take from what you have learned?
A: Although there is no reason to take any action now as I have no knowledge of any similar situations currently, if I did know someone who was defacing people's reputations for personal enjoyment I would move to convince them to stop this horrendous act.

viii) What big question has this text left you with?
A: This text has not left any questions with me. 

        Questions from text here