Shirley Jackson's Short Stories

In the short stories written by Shirley Jackson, the author
shows the reader how people act in different life
situations. Good examples of her stories that portray this
are "Charles", "The Lottery", and "After You My Dear
Alphonse". Shirley Jackson's short stories make very strong
comments about mankind, and people's reactions to episodes
in their life.
 
In Shirley Jackson's short story "After You My Dear
Alphonse", the common reaction of stereotyping is
displayed. The author takes a typical woman and gives her
the typical response to someone different from her. Shirley
Jackson says a lot about how people will react in that kind
of situation. She shows how people judge what they don't
know a common mistake among all of us.
 
"Charles", another short story written by Jackson, also
reveals human nature. She takes a typical family and shows
that behind what is visible to us, could be something no
one expected. In this story, a mother refuses to look at
what is right under her nose, for fear of discovering
something that she doesn't want to see- her precious
innocent little boy causing serious trouble. Instead, she
would rather believe that it is another little boy named
Charles.
 
Not only does this show the mother's reaction, but it also
displays her son, Laurie's, who is really causing the
trouble in school. Why is he hinting to his parents instead
of coming right out and telling them? Could it be because
he wants his parents to figure it out on their own?
 
Shirley Jackson shows how these two people react to this
situation. Furthermore, she also shows how it is dealt
with, by both the parents and the child. In this case, the
parent wanted desperately not to see the truth, whereas the
son wanted it desperately to be revealed.
 
A third story written by Shirley Jackson entitled "The
Lottery" deals with irony, in both the plot and the
people's reactions. The author starts out her story with a
beautiful summer day; everyone happy and excited for the
annual event of the lottery. The whole town gathers
together, the children playing, the wives gossiping and the
men conversing and telling an occasional joke. What the
reader doesn't know is that the lottery is really a drawing
for a person who is to be stoned to death. No one in the
town seems to have a problem with this event. It is a great
tradition that has been going on for years. People just
seem to go along with it, without stopping to think what it
really means. This relates to how people react to similar
situations today and don't want change. Shirley Jackson is
showing how people prefer to go along with traditions, and
carry on with something, in spite of the fact that it may
be wrong.
 
The characters in Shirley Jackson's short stories portray
real people, in the way they act and think. Her stories
also show a variety of personalities.