In "Charles," Shirley Jackson who creates the character “Charles” to deflect attention from his own misbehavior, is a clever and manipulative young boy who displays surprising independence and cunning. From the start, Laurie exhibits a new level of confidence and slight rebelliousness after beginning kindergarten, as he "renounced corduroy overalls with bibs and began wearing blue jeans with a belt" (Jackson, 73). This shift in appearance parallels his new, bold behavior, as he comes home daily with shocking stories about Charles, a supposed classmate who behaves outrageously. Laurie’s detailed accounts, including that “Charles yelled so much that the teacher spanked him” and “Charles was fresh” (Jackson, 73), serve to entertain and intrigue his parents, distracting them from Laurie’s own potential misbehavior.