The town in the story is small, peaceful, and seemingly friendly, where everyone knows each other. Jackson chose this setting to show that even in a nice, quiet town, hidden cruelty and judgment can still exist.
Miss Strangeworth is viewed with respect and kindness because she is old, polite, and comes from a long family history in the town. People see her as harmless and gentle.
She sends these letters because she believes it is her duty to keep the town “clean” and prevent evil. Another possible reason is that she enjoys feeling powerful by spreading suspicion and controlling others’ emotions.
The revenge was justified because Miss Strangeworth hurt many people with her letters, and she needed to face consequences. However, it was not fully appropriate because destroying her roses was cruel and gave her no chance to change.
I feel some pity for Miss Strangeworth because she was an old woman who lived a lonely life and thought she was doing good. But I also do not pity her because she caused pain to others on purpose.
Jackson likely wanted to show that evil can exist in everyday life, hidden behind polite appearances. She may also have wanted to warn people about the dangers of gossip, judgment, and secret cruelty.
I agree because just like Miss Strangeworth’s letters, people today use social media to spread rumors, judge others, or hurt them anonymously. The story warns us that hidden cruelty is still a problem in modern society.