The POSSIBILITY of evil
Shirley Jackson
About the Author
Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916, and spent her childhood in nearby Burlingame, California, where she began writing poetry and short stories as a young teenager.
Her family moved East when she was seventeen, and she attended the University of Rochester.
She entered Syracuse University in 1937 where she published her first story, “Janice".
The New Yorker published her story, “The Lottery".
She died August 8, 1965 in North Bennington, Vermont.
Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916, and spent her childhood in nearby Burlingame, California, where she began writing poetry and short stories as a young teenager.
Her family moved East when she was seventeen, and she attended the University of Rochester.
She entered Syracuse University in 1937 where she published her first story, “Janice".
The New Yorker published her story, “The Lottery".
She died August 8, 1965 in North Bennington, Vermont.
Prereading Reflection
How do you define "evil"?
I define evil as hurting others, committing mortal sins, disobeying Gods Law.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
To call the police if it is something serious, or to try and prevent by stopping them.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
They gain self confidence of themselves since they think they are better than them.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
Tell them to go to confession, at least that's what I would do.
How do you define "evil"?
I define evil as hurting others, committing mortal sins, disobeying Gods Law.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
To call the police if it is something serious, or to try and prevent by stopping them.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
They gain self confidence of themselves since they think they are better than them.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
Tell them to go to confession, at least that's what I would do.
Vocabulary in Contex:
Infatuated: in love/obsessed "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known..." (Page 28)
Indulgently: lenient "she though indulgently..." (Page 28)
Negotiable: compromise "her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff of suspicion..." (Page 32)
Degraded: treated with disrespect "but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded..." (Page 33)
Proverbial: referred to an idiom "Miss Strangeworth's hats were the most proverbial in town..." (Page 34)
Unduly: excessively "she did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly..." (Page 35)
Potential: qualities of development "... might not be of some service in wiping out this potential badness." (Page 36)
Infatuated: in love/obsessed "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known..." (Page 28)
Indulgently: lenient "she though indulgently..." (Page 28)
Negotiable: compromise "her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff of suspicion..." (Page 32)
Degraded: treated with disrespect "but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded..." (Page 33)
Proverbial: referred to an idiom "Miss Strangeworth's hats were the most proverbial in town..." (Page 34)
Unduly: excessively "she did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly..." (Page 35)
Potential: qualities of development "... might not be of some service in wiping out this potential badness." (Page 36)
Miss Strangeworth seems EVIL
Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she is acting nosy and gets into other peoples business. Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she judges people how people look, even if they look a little sloppy. Miss Strangeworth is evil when she sighs over the problem about raising kids. Miss Strangeworth is evil when she insults a child for being stupid, and then saying that some people just shouldn't have children. |
Miss Strangeworth DOES NOT SEEM EVIL
Mrs. Strangeworth seems nice when she says hi to random people, so she is friendly. Mrs. Strangeworth seems nice when she is considerate of others Mrs. Strangeworth seems nice when she is loyal and dedicated to her own town. Mrs. Strangeworth is nice when she is old Mrs, Strangeworth is nice when she smiled happy when she saw the baby |