Charles is a fictional character from the children's story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson, representing the mischievous and troublesome behavior of a boy in school. Laurie, on the other hand, is the narrator's son who creates the character of Charles to explain his own misbehavior and to mask his actions. The story highlights how Laurie's behavior reflects his struggles with growing up, while Charles serves as a convenient scapegoat. Ultimately, the difference lies in their roles, with Laurie being the real child and Charles being an imaginative construct.
Laurie's teacher
he is a fat man who is desperatly in love with james keith paterson
Laurie's mother is surprised at the PTA meeting because she learns that her daughter, Laurie, has been behaving disruptively in school, contrary to the polite and well-behaved persona she presents at home. During the meeting, she discovers that Laurie’s actions, like teasing a classmate named Charles, have made a significant impression on the teachers and other parents. This revelation highlights the disconnect between Laurie's home life and her behavior at school, leaving her mother bewildered.
Laurie created "Charles" as a way to cope with and express his frustrations about his own behavior and the challenges of adjusting to school. By inventing an imaginary friend who misbehaves, he could externalize his feelings and explore the boundaries of acceptable behavior without directly confronting his own actions. This also allowed him to navigate the complexities of growing up and the pressures of social norms. Ultimately, "Charles" serves as a reflection of Laurie's inner struggles and desires for acceptance.
Charles was born Nov 1988. Bill in Jan 1991. Rebecca in Sept 1993. You do the math.
They are curious about how her personality might affect her son's behavior
87
troublemaker
laurie is charles
jack eats too much
There is no differrence .
Laurie's mother feels conflicted about how to handle the conference with Laurie's teacher. Another conflict arises at the end when Laurie's parents, as well as the reader, discover that Laurie has invented Charles, and that his tales about Charles reflect conflicts in Laurie's own life.
troublemaker
surprised
neutrons
The internal conflict in "Charles" is felt by the young protagonist Laurie, who struggles to maintain his identity and behavior in the face of a mischievous and troublesome classmate named Charles. Laurie finds himself torn between wanting to fit in by emulating Charles's behavior and staying true to his own values.
the mother the father Charles laurie and the teacher