Kyle Barga
3-23-11
Irony and Symbolism; “The Possibility of Evil”
In “The Possibility of Evil”, Shirley Jackson symbolism and Irony reveals the ironic truth
about human nature. She portrays people who are decent and reveals there flaws (Dennis).
Then she finally returns to the ironic decency of human nature (Dennis).
The author, Shirley Jackson uses irony to reveal the flaws of the decent people (Dennis).
In, “The Possibility of Evil”, Jackson portrays Miss Strangeworth as being a harmless old lady.
For example, in the story it says, “she knew everyone in the town of course” which makes you
believe that she is again an average stereotypical grandma (140). Jackson uses situational irony
by showing that Miss Strangeworth is not who she appears to be. Miss Strangeworth secretly
writes letters unanimously to people throughout the town and tells them what she thinks by
pointing out there flaws. On example she writes is “Didn’t you ever see an idiot child before?
Some people just shouldn’t have children, should they (148)?” This just proves to the fact that
looks are not always what they appear to be.
Jackson uses symbolism to reflect on the indecency of humanity. Jackson’s biggest form
of symbolism in “The Possibility of Evil” is in what her rose bushes represented. An example is
when Miss Strangeworth got a letter that said, “Look out at what used to be your roses” (350).
Whoever sent here that letter cut off all here beautiful roses off the rose bush so all you could
see were the nasty thorns. This symbolizes that on the outside Miss Strangeworth is a nice old
lady but on the inside lays just a bitter old hag. In the story it said “Tourists who sometimes
passed through the town and stopped to admire Miss Strangeworth’s roses” which infers that
Kyle Barga
3-23-11
she wouldn’t let people take her roses that symbolizes her constant upkeep in her roses so no
one can see her ugly side (340). This adds to the fact that Jackson uses the indecency of
humanity is reflected on her symbolism.
Shirley Jackson’s symbolism and Irony reveals the ironic truth about human nature in
“The Possibility of Evil”. The theme in this story is looks are not always what they appear to be.
This is because Miss Strangeworth looks like a nice person but is really is an angry woman.
Lastly the theme of this story includes irony and symbolism in which this story is based upon.
Without symbolism and irony this story would serve little or no purpose that is reflected on the
ironic truth in human nature.
Kyle Barga
3-23-11
Works Cited
Dennis, Welch. "Manipulation in Shirley Jackson's Seven Types of Ambiguity ." TwentiethCentury Literary Criticism 187 (2007): 27-31. Print.
Jackson, Shirley . "The Possibility of Evil." Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart And
Winston, 2009. 340-351. Print.
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.