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Charles
In 'Charles,' the main character, Laurie, and his alter ego, Charles, are loosely based on Jackson's son Laurence. It is told from the mother's point-of-view and focuses on Laurie's search for identity. The story begins with Laurie's mother describing her son's first day of kindergarten
5 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1991
13 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Jackson
340 books11.2k followersShirley Jackson was an influential American author. A popular writer in her time, her work has received increasing attention from literary critics in recent years. She has influenced such writers as Stephen King, Nigel Kneale, and Richard Matheson.
She is best known for her dystopian short story, "The Lottery" (1948), which suggests there is a deeply unsettling underside to bucolic, smalltown America. In her critical biography of Shirley Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" was published in the June 28, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that "no New Yorker story had ever received." Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, "bewilderment, speculation and old-fashioned abuse."
Jackson's husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work that "she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years." Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson's works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of "personal, even neurotic, fantasies", but that Jackson intended, as "a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb", to mirror humanity's Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman's statement that she "was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned The Lottery', and she felt that they at least understood the story".
In 1965, Jackson died of heart failure in her sleep, at her home in North Bennington Vermont, at the age of 48.
She is best known for her dystopian short story, "The Lottery" (1948), which suggests there is a deeply unsettling underside to bucolic, smalltown America. In her critical biography of Shirley Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" was published in the June 28, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that "no New Yorker story had ever received." Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, "bewilderment, speculation and old-fashioned abuse."
Jackson's husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work that "she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years." Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson's works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of "personal, even neurotic, fantasies", but that Jackson intended, as "a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb", to mirror humanity's Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman's statement that she "was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned The Lottery', and she felt that they at least understood the story".
In 1965, Jackson died of heart failure in her sleep, at her home in North Bennington Vermont, at the age of 48.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
October 23, 2021
The parents are always the last to know. I knew where this one was going, but the humor was terrific.
March 11, 2021
"Charles" is a humorous story from Shirley Jackson's "Life Among the Savages," a collection of semi-autobiographical stories about raising her children. This is an amusing story about a mischievous young boy in his first weeks of kindergarten. It's best not to look at the GR blurb or any reviews before reading this short story. 3.5 stars.
https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2010/0...
https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2010/0...
April 30, 2020
#abrilcontosmil
“The day Laurie started kindergarten, he renounced corduroy overalls with bibs and began wearing bluejeans with a belt; I watched him go off the first morning with the older girl next door, seeing clearly that an era of my life was ended, my sweet-voiced nursery-school tot replaced by a long-trousered, swaggering character who forgot to stop at the corner and wave goodbye to me.
Assim, começa este surpreendente conto de Shirley Jackson, em que Laurie todos os dias choca os pais com os disparates de Charles, seu colega de infantário. Como em muitas histórias desta autora, nada é o que parece e só uma argúcia maior que a do Laurie nos prepara para o final.
“Charles didn’t even do exercises.” “That’s fine,” I said heartily. “Didn’t Charles want to do exercises?” “Naaah,” Laurie said. “Charles was so fresh to the teacher’s friend he wasn’t let do exercises.” “Fresh again? I said. “He kicked the teacher’s friend,” Laurie said. “The teacher’s friend told Charles to touch his toes like I just did and Charles kicked him.”
“The day Laurie started kindergarten, he renounced corduroy overalls with bibs and began wearing bluejeans with a belt; I watched him go off the first morning with the older girl next door, seeing clearly that an era of my life was ended, my sweet-voiced nursery-school tot replaced by a long-trousered, swaggering character who forgot to stop at the corner and wave goodbye to me.
Assim, começa este surpreendente conto de Shirley Jackson, em que Laurie todos os dias choca os pais com os disparates de Charles, seu colega de infantário. Como em muitas histórias desta autora, nada é o que parece e só uma argúcia maior que a do Laurie nos prepara para o final.
“Charles didn’t even do exercises.” “That’s fine,” I said heartily. “Didn’t Charles want to do exercises?” “Naaah,” Laurie said. “Charles was so fresh to the teacher’s friend he wasn’t let do exercises.” “Fresh again? I said. “He kicked the teacher’s friend,” Laurie said. “The teacher’s friend told Charles to touch his toes like I just did and Charles kicked him.”
May 22, 2024
The story was quite predictable for me, not as controversial as "The Lottery," but still interesting to follow.
June 7, 2018
This book is really good I liked it, There are very funny parts in it. It's about a kindagardener who has to deal with a young kid named Charles that always get's into trouble and the teacher has to talk to Charles and there is a very big twist at the end.
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May 9, 2024Vaguely amusing.
July 8, 2014
Since I read the book Shirley, my interest in this author has been reawakened. I wasn't going to review this, since it is so short, but I read it weeks ago and it is a story I can't seem. Forget. The character is a young boy in kindergarten, and I am not sure exactly what this story represents. Either the young boy is much smarter than his years and this's meat to be amusing or since it is Jackson writing this, is the young boy a burgeoning psychopath? Someone else lease read this and tell me what your interpretation of this story.
February 20, 2025
Boys will be boys.
Little Laurie is starting kindergarten. A new stage is beginning and their parents know it, and raising concerns starts to form when they hear worrisome daily news about a terribly problematic and obnoxiously mischievous child named "Charles."
A little predictable but still good, not bad for 6 pages worth. The only enjoyable bit I've read by Shirley Jackson so far, which is saying a lot considering my two previous duds. Still pretty much looking forward to The Lottery, and maybe a collection of her shorts.
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1948 ] [6p] [Fiction] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
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???????? The Lottery and Other Stories <--
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Niños serán Niños.
El pequeño Laurie está empezando el jardín de infantes. Una nueva etapa está comenzando y sus padres lo saben, y surgen serias preocupaciones cuando escuchan a diario alarmantes noticias sobre un niño terriblemente problemático y desagradablemente travieso llamado "Charles".
Un poco predecible pero igual bueno, nada mal para 6 páginas. La única cosa agradable que he leído de Shirley Jackson hasta el momento, lo cual es decir mucho considerando mis dos fracasos anteriores. Todavía tengo muchas ganas de leer La Lotería, y tal vez una colección de sus cortos.
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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1948 ] [6p] [Ficción] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
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Little Laurie is starting kindergarten. A new stage is beginning and their parents know it, and raising concerns starts to form when they hear worrisome daily news about a terribly problematic and obnoxiously mischievous child named "Charles."
A little predictable but still good, not bad for 6 pages worth. The only enjoyable bit I've read by Shirley Jackson so far, which is saying a lot considering my two previous duds. Still pretty much looking forward to The Lottery, and maybe a collection of her shorts.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1948 ] [6p] [Fiction] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
???????? The Lottery and Other Stories <--
-----------------------------------------------
Niños serán Niños.
El pequeño Laurie está empezando el jardín de infantes. Una nueva etapa está comenzando y sus padres lo saben, y surgen serias preocupaciones cuando escuchan a diario alarmantes noticias sobre un niño terriblemente problemático y desagradablemente travieso llamado "Charles".
Un poco predecible pero igual bueno, nada mal para 6 páginas. La única cosa agradable que he leído de Shirley Jackson hasta el momento, lo cual es decir mucho considerando mis dos fracasos anteriores. Todavía tengo muchas ganas de leer La Lotería, y tal vez una colección de sus cortos.
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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1948 ] [6p] [Ficción] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
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April 24, 2017
When Laurie, a little boy, comes home from school, he always has a story to tell, about Charles, a naughty trouble maker in his class.
His parents are enjoying them and are eager to meet Charles's mother in the next parent-teacher meeting. That end was awesome!
His parents are enjoying them and are eager to meet Charles's mother in the next parent-teacher meeting. That end was awesome!
September 25, 2018
Lovely little dinger of a short story about a mischievous boy from the pen of horror mistress Shirley Jackson. Can be found in her collection of stories Life Among the Savages, and until some smart publisher puts out a standalone, that's how I recommend it.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
July 18, 2025
It was okay, the humour had little effect on me
September 6, 2018
"Charles" is a really fun short story to read. It is very interesting to read about what bad behavior 'Charles' did everyday in kindergarten. It is also fun to find out that their was no 'Charles' in the kindergarten. I really like this story and I really enjoy it.
September 5, 2018
I recommend this book to all readers that likes short story. This is a story about a boy named Laurie that lied to his mother and father. For example he told his mom about"Charles" hisself telling bad words to little kids.I think he lied because of he don't want her mom to know about him doing bad things. I will recommend this book a lot.
May 29, 2019
One of the books that is simple and having strage and nice moral to be taught in dealing with children.
September 29, 2015
A friend recommended this to me. Short but good. She is clever.
July 1, 2017
Ah...
Innocent tales of a kindergartner's mind or does something more sinister lay ahead? While I figured the story's end early, my entertainment still kindled bright.
Innocent tales of a kindergartner's mind or does something more sinister lay ahead? While I figured the story's end early, my entertainment still kindled bright.
September 6, 2018
I read this book on my language and literature class I read Charles by Shirley Jackson. I really recommend you to read Charles it is a lot of fun I laugh a lot when Charles kick the teacher's friends feet also I enjoy that how Laurie lie to her mother, and when I read through the last sentences there was no Charles in our school I want to read the next paragraph also I am curious what will happen next to Laurie. Last of all Charles this book give me lots of laugh, I recommend you to read this book.👍
September 6, 2018
I would recommend Charles, because it is very interesting. It was interesting For me to see other family stress (I like that). And it is very crazy, because I thought first Laurie is the good one, but then I was very surprised about it. Please read this book, because then you know a bit about kindergarten. I was very surprised!
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September 7, 2018I recommend the short story Charles. it was hilarious and fun to read and listen to!
I was excited when we were going to find out who is Charles and why he is doing these things. When I found out that Laurie was Charles, I was thinking: Laurie was so naughty!
I was excited when we were going to find out who is Charles and why he is doing these things. When I found out that Laurie was Charles, I was thinking: Laurie was so naughty!
November 16, 2023
“He was so fresh!”
As an ex-childcare worker, I knew exactly where this was going. I’ve been around my fair share of Charles.
As an ex-childcare worker, I knew exactly where this was going. I’ve been around my fair share of Charles.
January 8, 2018
*This was a signed read*
Now I gave it a 2,5 but that doesnt mean I hated the story, it was enjoyable and definitely has some morals but I always expect short stories like these to be brilliant not in this case tho, it was just good.
Now I gave it a 2,5 but that doesnt mean I hated the story, it was enjoyable and definitely has some morals but I always expect short stories like these to be brilliant not in this case tho, it was just good.
May 16, 2023
shirley jackson's short stories - 9/25
laurie is a little piece of shit. bet he's been doing all the stuff he says charles has been T_T
laurie is a little piece of shit. bet he's been doing all the stuff he says charles has been T_T
March 31, 2022
I can't say much about this story without giving the ending away, not that it is a big surprise, but I'll keep it to myself for now. Our main character is a boy named Laurie. Laurie is going off to school for the first time and his mother says her "sweet-voiced nursery-school tot replaced by a long-trousered, swaggering character who forgot to stop at the corner and wave good-bye". And so begins Laurie's life at school and his meeting and knowing Charles, the worst boy in the class. He seems to be getting spanked for one reason or another everyday, for being "fresh", for hitting the teacher, bouncing a see-saw on a girl's head making it bleed, pounding his feet on the floor, on and on it goes. Charles is so interesting to Laurie's parents they can't wait to meeting with the teacher and learning more about him. And that's it, the rest you'll have to find out for yourself by reading the story, it will take about ten minutes. It's stories like this that make me glad they are short. Happy reading.
January 5, 2018
My son had to read this book for school. I read it ages ago and had forgotten how good it was. I love Shirley Jackson. If you've never read the Lottery, that's a *great* story! In fact, I may have to download that one next for the Kindle.
Charles is a short story, and that makes it difficult to write much of a review without spoiling it for you. It's about a little boy who comes home every day from school with a story for his parents about Charles - a boy in his class who is quite a trouble maker. His parents enjoy hearing stories about what Charles has done every day, and can't wait for their little boy to come home and share with them each day what happened at school with Charles.
Charles is a short story, and that makes it difficult to write much of a review without spoiling it for you. It's about a little boy who comes home every day from school with a story for his parents about Charles - a boy in his class who is quite a trouble maker. His parents enjoy hearing stories about what Charles has done every day, and can't wait for their little boy to come home and share with them each day what happened at school with Charles.
September 6, 2018
I read this story in my Language and Literature class and my classmates enjoyed the story. We thought that Charles was funny and hilarious. We found it funny when Laurie came up with Charles. I personally enjoyed the part when mom found that Charles is actually Laurie. This short story will be great for entertainment.
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April 29, 2021https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/ch...
The short story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson is about a kindergartener named Laurie who has an alter ego named Charles. The story is told in the mother's perspective about her son's first few days of kindergarten. When Laurie comes home from school each day, he tells his parents about a peer named Charles who harms other students in the class. Laurie describes Charles as a bad influence in the classroom. Laurie's parents cannot believe how any parent could raise a child who behaves as poorly as Charles. At the end of the story, however, Laurie's parents find out that there is no classmate in kindergarten whose name is Charles.
The short story relates to middle schoolers' lives because they have either misbehaved in school or witnessed other classmates behaving poorly in school. Middle school students can explore the reasons why some people act out in class. It is a good discussion point to recognize that you cannot cast judgement on other students (or other parents' children) when you do not know the full story.
The concept of Identity is present in this short story because of how Laurie has an alter-ego named Charles. This short story coincides with the CommonLit Staff article "Alter-Egos." This short story is a prime example in literature and how alter-egos exist in real life. Laurie's identity is two-sided; the behaviors and personalities of the two identities are drastically different.
Gallagher's "Why Do _____ Behave That Way?" writing strategy is a fitting strategy for students to use alongside this text because it emphasizes the need for empathy. As a class, we could discuss why Laurie behaves the way he does in the story. I will ask students to be compassionate in their responses and try to imagine what could be going on that would cause Laurie to have an alter ego that is aggressive. After doing the writing strategy together as a class, students will be asked to answer their own "Why do/does ______ behave that way?" Again, I will ask students to be empathetic in their responses if they are exploring topics involving groups of people such as sports fans, siblings, or friends.
The short story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson is about a kindergartener named Laurie who has an alter ego named Charles. The story is told in the mother's perspective about her son's first few days of kindergarten. When Laurie comes home from school each day, he tells his parents about a peer named Charles who harms other students in the class. Laurie describes Charles as a bad influence in the classroom. Laurie's parents cannot believe how any parent could raise a child who behaves as poorly as Charles. At the end of the story, however, Laurie's parents find out that there is no classmate in kindergarten whose name is Charles.
The short story relates to middle schoolers' lives because they have either misbehaved in school or witnessed other classmates behaving poorly in school. Middle school students can explore the reasons why some people act out in class. It is a good discussion point to recognize that you cannot cast judgement on other students (or other parents' children) when you do not know the full story.
The concept of Identity is present in this short story because of how Laurie has an alter-ego named Charles. This short story coincides with the CommonLit Staff article "Alter-Egos." This short story is a prime example in literature and how alter-egos exist in real life. Laurie's identity is two-sided; the behaviors and personalities of the two identities are drastically different.
Gallagher's "Why Do _____ Behave That Way?" writing strategy is a fitting strategy for students to use alongside this text because it emphasizes the need for empathy. As a class, we could discuss why Laurie behaves the way he does in the story. I will ask students to be compassionate in their responses and try to imagine what could be going on that would cause Laurie to have an alter ego that is aggressive. After doing the writing strategy together as a class, students will be asked to answer their own "Why do/does ______ behave that way?" Again, I will ask students to be empathetic in their responses if they are exploring topics involving groups of people such as sports fans, siblings, or friends.
September 7, 2018
In the short story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson. the theme was that one should not judge others. We read this book at school and we liked it pretty much, because it was about lies and mystery, also Charles was a kid invented by one of the main characters Laurie. I liked when Laurie came with a bad news of Charles. For example when Charles told a girl to say a bad word and the teacher washed the girl's mouth with soap and Charles laughed. In the story Laurie a boy goes to his first day of kindergarten and when he gets home he told the family about this kid Charles. At the end of the story the mom goes to a PTA meeting and she ask the teacher about the kid Charles. The teacher says there is not a Charles. In the short story, the theme was that the one who judges could be the one other judge.
September 6, 2018
I recommend all students who likes to read short stories to take some time reading this story. When I start reading this story, I can't stop reading it! It was very interesting about a naughty kid in Kindergarten. The naughty kid, Charles, also known as the main character, was doing all these bad things in school. Then, there was this kid named Laura who informed his mother everything Charles was doing each day. His mom was very curios about Charles and how his bad influence can effect his child. At the end, there was a twist. I don't want to spoil it to you so I recommend you to take some time reading this book.
September 6, 2018
I really like the book "Charles." I really enjoy how exciting the book is. For example like the time when her mom finds out that "Charles" is not real. Even though I really enjoy reading the story there is still some points that I do not agree in like, when Laurie kept on lying to his parent about "Charles." But why would Laurie keep on talking bad about "Charles" when he knows that if his parents get more information about "Charles" bad attitude in school his parents will go to school and find out all about it. Overall, I really enjoy reading this book with my classmates.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews