Ironia e foreshadowing: uma análise do conto Charles, de Shirley Jackson

Abstract

The way Shirley Jackson addresses a real issue (family life), presenting and describing everyday life situations (trickeries of a child at school and at home) and intertwining the lies and manipulations of a child/protagonist in such a well-constructed way causes an immediate interest in "Charles". In addition, this tale has its plot improved with the employment of irony and foreshadowing. We intend to briefly explain what is meant by these literary devices, pointing out their recurrence and analyzing how they are intertwined in this narrative in order to create an atmosphere of uncertainties and expectations until the moment of its denouement. This work is based on bibliographical research, primarily about the literary aspects mentioned above. It also includes a brief biographical research about the author’s life because we understand that, as regards Shirley Jackson, her life and work are closely related.