Question

In the story "Charles," what does Laurie's disrespectful behavior toward his father reveal? Laurie has been negatively influenced by Charles's misbehavior at school. Laurie is angry at his father for disapproving of Charles's behavior. Laurie is more likely to tell lies than other children. Laurie is a boy who is likely to misbehave around adults

Answer 1

Answer:

Laurie has been negatively influenced by Charles's misbehavior at school.

Explanation:

Shirley Jackson's short story "Charles," tells the story of a small kindergarten boy named Laurie and his "imaginary friend" Charles and how his actions influenced him. The story deals with the theme of identity in the main protagonist Laurie, how he wants to be, and how his parents perceive him to be.

By narrating the day's events to his parents, Laurie presents the image of Charles as someone who is revolting against adults and acts however he wants. Moreover, he also seems to have an influence over Laurie who acts rudely against his father and even uses demeaning language. But what surprises us the most is that Laurie had made up the image of Charles, like an alter-ego of how he wants to be away from being Laurie, the son his parents think and adore.

Despite Laurie and Charles being the same person, we cannot ignore the fact that Charles's behavior did influence Laurie who acts rebellious even at home, outside of the school sphere where Charles's persona takes over. Thus, the correct answer is that Charles's misbehavior at school negatively influences Laurie's behavior outside of the school.