1. The town in the story is a small, quiet, and seemingly peaceful community where everyone knows each other. Jackson likely set her story in this setting to emphasize the contrast between the town’s outward appearance of harmony and the hidden malice that Miss Strangeworth spreads through her letters.
2. The other townspeople see Miss Strangeworth as a kind, respectable, and harmless old woman who takes pride in her roses and family heritage. They do not suspect that she is the source of the anonymous letters that cause so much pain.
3. Miss Strangeworth sends the letters because she believes it is her duty to warn people about potential evil and corruption in their lives. Another possible reason is that she enjoys the sense of power and control she feels when she stirs up suspicion and distress in the town.
4. The revenge at the end was justified in the sense that Miss Strangeworth finally experienced the pain and cruelty she had been inflicting on others. However, it may not have been entirely appropriate because destroying her roses was an act of vandalism rather than a moral correction, though it symbolically took away her pride.
5. I feel only limited pity for Miss Strangeworth because she is an elderly woman whose reputation and happiness were destroyed. However, her downfall was the direct result of her own cruel actions, so it is hard to fully sympathize with her.
6. Jackson may have wanted to show how easily evil can hide beneath the surface of everyday life, especially in ordinary, respectable people. She may also have been warning readers about the dangers of judgment, gossip, and self-righteousness within small communities.
7.I agree with this statement because just like Miss Strangeworth’s anonymous letters, people today can use social media to spread rumors, hate, and criticism while hiding behind the safety of a screen. The story warns us that cruelty disguised as righteousness can still cause real harm, which makes it timelessly relevant.