1. The town appears peaceful, friendly, and ordinary. Jackson used this setting to highlight that cruelty can hide beneath a calm surface.
2. To the townspeople, Miss Strangeworth seems kind, respectful, and dependable. They have no idea about her secret letters.
3. She writes the letters because she believes she is protecting the town, but it also shows her desire to control and judge others.
4. The ending punishment was harsh, yet it was a natural outcome of her behavior and exposed the harm she created.
5. I feel a small amount of sympathy, since she lost something she valued, but she largely brought the suffering on herself.
6. Jackson’s purpose was to teach that outward appearances can hide darker truths and to caution against spreading gossip.
7. Yes, the story still matters today, since people use social media to criticize or spread rumors, just like her letters.