The Rose Garden

Miss Strangeworth’s rose garden is perhaps the most significant symbol of the story, as it represents her place in the community as well as her character. The roses are a symbol of her implantation within the town, her family’s long history that has made her an established resident whom others respect. Her covetousness of her roses and her refusal to let them leave Pleasant Street suggests that the roses are a vestige of her staunch traditionalism and her desire to keep living her insular lifestyle. Finally, the roses could also symbolize Miss Strangeworth’s nature, as they are beautiful upon first glance but always have thorns – just as Miss Strangeworth is friendly to those around her while also secretly attempting to dismantle their lives.

The Letters

Miss Strangeworth’s letters symbolize her two-facedness when it comes to the people of her town...