Charles

Laurie's mother in Shirley Jackson's "Charles" is a character who is initially naive and trusting, believing her son Laurie's stories about a mischievous classmate named Charles. She is a loving and...

At the P.T.A. meeting in "Charles," Laurie's mother eagerly anticipates meeting Charles's mother to discuss his behavior. However, she is shocked to learn from the teacher that there is no Charles in...

The mother is naïve and selectively blind to her son's behavior.

Laurie's mother is concerned about kindergarten because of her son’s stories about a boy named Charles, who frequently misbehaves. She worries about the negative influence Charles might have on...

Laurie's mom feels a mix of sadness and being overwhelmed about Laurie's growth, noting his shift to more grown-up behavior as he starts kindergarten. She observes that an era has ended with Laurie...

Laurie's mom didn't realize Laurie was Charles because she was in denial about her son's behavior, seeing him as a "sweet-voiced nursery-school tot" rather than a misbehaving child. Laurie created...