"Something Wicked This Way Comes, Chuckles” Humor and the Uncanny in Shirley Jackson's Charles

This research looks at how Shirley Jackson's short story "Charles" blends the uncanny and humor to delve into more complex psychological and sociological concerns. The study aims to analyze the roles that humor and the uncanny play in the story, as well as how they impact tone and mood and how they depict parental perspective and childhood behavior. This study employs qualitative theme analysis to examine how Jackson combines the uncanny and humor to address larger psychological and societal issues. Data analysis entails finding themes and patterns connected to these elements, whereas data collection is closely reading the text and concentrating on any instances of humor and the uncanny. The key findings emphasize the deft application of humor and the uncanny to investigate the intricacies of childhood and parenthood and to question societal standards. The analysis highlights the significance of Jackson's work in analyzing common human experiences and social interactions while also advancing our comprehension of her narrative techniques and thematic themes.