“Truth and roses both have thorns about them” (Henry David Thoreau) In the short story of “The Possibility of Evil”, the roses symbolize Miss Adela Strangeworth’s untruthful and deceptive personality. First of all, she presents herself as a very charming old lady in public, Miss Strangeworth regularly “stops every minute or so to say good morning to someone or to ask after someone’s health.” In one particular example, she says to Helen Crane that her baby “is going to grow up expecting luxury all her life.” ,even though the baby clearly suffers from physical problems. Despite of all the blessing and endorsement, Miss Strangeworth in reality, secretly write letters to inflict drama and raise suspicion. The letters are full of hostility. One