Charles, Shirley Jackson: Summary & Analysis

'Charles' by Shirley Jackson: Introduction 'Charles' is a compelling short story written by American author Shirley Jackson, who lived from 1916 to 1965. The story was first published in Mademoiselle magazine in 1948 and later included in her 1949 collection titled The Lottery and Other Stories. In 'Charles,' Jackson explores the transformation of a young boy as he starts kindergarten and begins to exhibit troublesome behaviors, attributing them to another student named Charles. 'Charles': Plot Summary The story is narrated from the perspective of a mother who notices changes in her son Laurie's behavior when he starts attending kindergarten. As Laurie embarks on this new phase of his life, he adopts different clothing styles and forgets to wave goodbye to his mother when he reaches the end of the street. Rude Behavior and the Influence of Charles Following his first day at school, Laurie displays rudeness at the dinner table. Concerned, the narrator rep…