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Miss Strangeworth And Edith Hamilton's The Possibility Of Evil

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Imagine being color blind, where what is displayed is not what is seen. Likewise, someone with contradictory personalities may leave someone dumbfounded. In this way, the heroic persona given off may not be that person’s true identity. Then again, the motivation behind this unpredictable personality change is often unknown. Miss Strangeworth, a seemingly sweet old lady, was extremely well known in her town. This woman was also respected by all, but she did not show the same respect in return. At least, not behind closed doors. In the same way, Hercules, the Greek hero possessing supernatural strength, had an uncontrollable temper at times that potentially led to an almost unforgivable act. Both characters planned to rid certain areas of evil, and in doing so, they had to deal with personalized consequences. Miss Strangeworth from The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson and Hercules from Edith Hamilton’s Mythology depict different …show more content…

However, again, Hercules’ was very public. Miss Strangeworth was having a normal day until she realized a letter quite similar to the ones she wrote, saying “LOOK AT WHAT USED TO BE YOUR ROSES” (Jackson 214). Whoever punished her for her wrongdoings was exceptionally clever, allowing her to feel how the receivers of her letters felt. Hopefully, Miss Strangeworth learned her lesson. Hercules’ consequences were the twelve labors, consisting of him completing seemingly impossible tasks which he miraculously achieved. “The tasks Eurystheus gave him to so are called ‘the Labors of Hercules’” (Hamilton 232). Hercules was given these labors as a punishment, but he handled them like everyday activities. Even after completing them, he did not forgive himself. There is motivation behind every action, whether it receives a consequence or not, and in this case, Hercules and Miss Strangeworth’s motivations are

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