Skip to main content

What is the irony in Shirley Jackson's story “Charles”?

The irony is that Charles does not exist, and the family has been judging Laurie the entire time.

Irony in literature is “the technique of indicating an intention or attitude opposed to what is actually stated”. It is when what happens is different from what is expected. The irony in this story is that the horrible boy Charles in kindergarten with Laurie is really Laurie.


Laurie is a troublemaker. His mother should be able to see this, but she is too wrapped up in her complicated life to notice. She has a new baby who draws away most of her focus. From the beginning of the story, Laurie’s bad behavior is described.



At lunch he spoke insolently to his father, spilled his baby sister’s milk, and remarked that his teacher said we were not to take the name of the Lord in vain. 



When Laurie starts kindergarten, he describes a terrible boy who always acts up and gets in trouble. The entire family seems to enjoy listening to the little boy’s mishaps, even though their own child is no angel. The irony is that they are so judgmental of Charles and ignore Laurie’s misbehavior. 


Laurie’s mother can’t attend the first P.T.A. meeting, but she goes to the second one, excited to meet Charles’s mother. Laurie's parents gleefully discuss meeting the mother of the horrible boy.



“Invite her over for a cup of tea after the meeting,” he said. “I want to get a look at her.”
“If only she’s there,” I said prayerfully.
“She’ll be there,” my husband said. “I don’t see how they could hold a P.T.A. meeting without Charles’s mother.”



They are being very judgmental. At the meeting, Laurie's mother meets her son's teacher, who tells her Laurie “had a little trouble adjusting, the first week or so.” She then tells her that there is no Charles in the class. 


Although the story ends there, the implication is clear: Laurie made up Charles. All the behaviors he attributed to Charles were his own. He wanted to tell his parents what was happening, but did not know how or feared the repercussions.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the probability that a cross between parents who are both homozygous recessive for trait will have offspring that are homozygous recessive...

In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring... In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring will have the disease phenotype. The disease phenotype of sickle cell anemia re...
Post a Comment
Read more