'Southern Gothicism In A Possibility Of Evil'

The best understanding of the short story “A Possibility of Evil” comes from trusting the characteristics of the literary movement of Southern Gothicism. Southern Gothicism focuses on the american south as a result of the civil war. It is believed that Southern Gothicism exposes the problems of society through complex characters who are often damaged or even delusional. This theme of exposing society through a complex character is very consistent with that of Miss Strangeworth, the old lady who writes anonymous letters to other citizens of her small town. The letters she writes often hint to the problems in her town, Line 138 on Page 4 states that “...evil existed unchecked in the world, it was Miss Strangeworth’s duty to keep her town alert to it” The narrator assigns this role of a watcher of the town to Strangeworth with this line, and she believes she is tasked with exposing the evil of it.
The short story takes place in a little town on a fragrant summer day, the sun is shining, the air is fresh and clear, and this setting is the perfect contrast for the conflict and evil of the townspeople and Miss Strangeworth. This is a

There are references to a Strangeworth family throughout the story, On line 11 of page 1 there is a quote from Strangeworth saying “My grandfather built the first house on Pleasant Street” she says this to back up her thinking that the town belongs to her. Furthermore she says that her grandmother planted the roses outside her house and that her mother tended to them just as she does. However line 158 says that people everywhere need to be watched and there is only one Strangeworth left in the world, this means all other family members have supposedly died. She believes that the Strangeworth’s are incharge of watching over the people of her town, and her ancestors may have wrote similar letters as she