Question

How does the resolution of the story "Charles" create an ironic twist? Laurie's mother is happy to learn that Laurie is doing well despite Charles's influence on him. Laurie's mother is curious to meet Charles's mother but learns that she doesn't exist. Readers learn, along with Laurie's mother, that Laurie is the boy causing trouble. Readers are surprised to learn that Charles's mother is not at the PTA meeting.

Answer 1

Readers learn, along with Laurie's mother, that Laurie is the boy causing trouble.

Step-by-step explanation:

Shirley Jackson's short story "Charles" tells the story of how a young boy made up another character to parents to conceal his own rough and bad nature in school. He had made up an 'imaginary Charles', blaming him for all the wrong things he had been accused of and how he had been influenced by him.

The whole story of Charles influencing Laurie for the bad behavior in school had been made up by Laurie himself to hide his acts and fool his parents from believing that their son is capable of doing all those acts. Small though he may be, he has the brain to invent a new 'friend' in Charles, who turn out to be nothing and a nobody. Thus, the ironic twist in the story came when the readers, along with Laurie's mother, learn that not only is there a boy named Charles in school but that it was Laurie who had been causing all the trouble in school.

Answer 2

The best answer to the question: How does the resolution of the story "Charles" create an ironic twist? Would be: Readers learn, along with Laurie´s mother, that Laurie is the boy causing trouble.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Charles" is a short story by writer Shirley Jackson and which was first published in 1948, in the magazine Mademoiselle. The text tells us about a mother whose son, Laurie, has now crossed a milestone as he is now going to kindergarte, and who seems to be changing in his attitude, from a sweet boy, to a difficult one, due to his contact with a supposed rough child known as Charles. All throughout the story, Laurie keeps his parents convinced that everything that is happening wrong in school is due to this boy and his bad influence, and they start to be convinced that Laurie´s bad behavior at home springs from that contact. Called to a P.T.A meeting, Laurie´s mother tries to meet with Charles´ mother, but soon finds out that not only does Charles´ mother not exist, but neither does Charles himself. At the very end of the story, in fact, Laurie´s mother meets his teacher, and is soon faced with a really difficult and ironic twist: Charles does not exist, neither does his mother; but it is Laurie himself who had all along been the one causing trouble at school, and he had created this character to excuse his behavior and convince his parents that he was still a good boy. This is why the answer is the third option.