In “Charles” by Shirley Jackson, Laurie shares his experiences in
kindergarten with his mother. Write an essay analyzing how the mother’s
point of view of Laurie changes from the beginning of the story to the end.
Use evidence from the text to support your response.
At the beginning of the story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson, the mother's point of view of Laurie is one of confusion and amusement. However, as the story progresses, her perspective on Laurie undergoes a significant change, leading to a surprising realization. Through the use of evidence from the text, we can observe this transformation in the mother's point of view.
Initially, the mother finds Laurie's stories about a mischievous boy named Charles quite amusing. She even calls Laurie "my boy-hero," suggesting that she sees his actions as innocent and funny. The mother's indifference towards the behavior of her son is evident when she casually mentions that "Charles yelled so that the whole class heard him", which would typically be seen as problematic, yet she finds it amusing. This demonstrates the mother's initial lack of concern for Laurie's behavior and her tendency to dismiss any misbehavior as merely a part of childhood.
As the story progresses, the mother's point of view starts to shift as she becomes more intrigued by the character of Charles. She begins to take notice of the stories Laurie tells her, reinforcing her curiosity about this mischievous boy. When Laurie imitates Charles' behavior at home, the mother is shocked, exclaiming, "You certainly have picked up a great deal this past month." This suggests that the mother's interest in Charles has grown to the point where she starts to wonder about Laurie's influence on him.
Finally, the mother's point of view undergoes a dramatic change when she attends a PTA meeting and realizes that Charles does not exist. She discovers that her son Laurie has been the one behaving badly all along. The narrator states, "Charles' mother, and in fact all the mothers, had a great deal to learn." This shift in perspective is reinforced when the mother confronts Laurie about his misbehavior. She is shocked and angry, demanding to know why he had lied about the existence of Charles. This revelation marks a turning point in the mother's point of view as she recognizes the extent to which she had been deceived by her son.
In conclusion, the mother's point of view of Laurie changes significantly throughout the story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson. She initially finds his stories amusing but becomes increasingly curious about his behavior and its connection to Charles. Her viewpoint undergoes a profound transformation when she realizes that Laurie has been the one behaving badly. This realization forces the mother to confront the truth about her son's conduct, which ultimately changes her perception of him.