Charles By Shirley Jackson: Literary Analysis

The author, Shirley Jackson, wrote a fictional short story titled “Charles,” which took place in a small town many years ago. In the story, the main character, Laurie, tells stories to his parents about a mischievous boy named Charles in his kindergarten class. In the end, the parents learn that there was, in fact, no “Charles” at all, and it was their own son doing all of the bad deeds. The author utilized literary tools in the story, such as character, point-of-view, and symbolism. On literary tool the author used was character. The story says, “My sweet-voiced nursery-school tot [was] replaced by a long-trousered, swaggering character who forgot to stop at the corner and wave goodbye to me” (Jackson 1). This quote shows that Laurie grew

Both children were insubordinate, and didn’t acknowledge it themselves. A last section reads, “‘Charles,’ he shouted as he came up the hill; I was waiting anxiously on the front steps. ‘Charles,’ Laurie yelled all

Laurie’s mother narrated the story. The author made sure the narrator gave an objective account yet was not omniscient. For example, a quote reads, “On Saturday I remarked to my husband, ‘Do you think kindergarten is too unsettling for Laurie? All this toughness and bad grammar, and this Charles boy sounds like such a bad influence’” (Jackson 2). By having the narrator ask questions, suspense is built up and the reader is intrigued in the mystery about Charles’ identity. This is why it is important that the narrator was not omniscient. Another section says, “‘Can this be true about Charles?’ I asked my husband that night. ‘Can something like this happen?’” (Jackson 4). Throughout the story, Laurie’s mother had no doubts as to Charles being an actual kindergarten child. Because she narrates the story, the mother rubs off her beliefs and feelings - like her shock at Charles’ transformation - onto the reader, but still gives an accurate account of the story. The author would include this to enthrall the reader and build up the mystery more. A last quote reads, “At the meeting I sat restlessly, scanning each comfortable matronly face, trying to determine which one hid the secret of Charles. None of them looked to me haggard enough. No one stood up in the meeting and apologized for the way her son had been acting. No one mentioned Charles” (Jackson 5). Including the mother’s thoughts and her