I know, here I am asking for homework again but, I just need to ask one little question. Does it ever say why Charlie the main character from The Jar has been laughed at and made fun of for his whole life? I have read and re-read the story but I can't figure it out. Does it not tell the reader in the story at all or am I just missing it?

It seems like, to me, you're just missing it. Charlie reveals his gullibility and need for approval from others through his own actions. Naturally people who had nothing better to do (and they live in a rural, impoverished, isolated environment before TV or probably even radio was invented--yikes!) would amuse themselves laughing at a hick-among-hicks like Charlie.

After reading the story I thought that Charlie would go to any lenth, even to buying what could amount to a pickeled fetus in a sideshow to bring some credibility, and prestige into his life, his wife Thedy was constantly undermining him by taking his earnings, he even muses about how he could'nt hold her, and spending his hard earned money while visiting her relatives for weeks at a time. It seemed that he was constantly the brunt of the locals bitter humor. His almost diefication of the mass in the Jar, along with the communal yet singular interpretation for each individual of the Jars contents, when they gathered in his cabin brought Charlie the prestige, and inclusion to the community he strongly craved. That is why at the first of the story I feel Charlie is so transfixed by the Jar in the carny tent with its potential, and promise of acceptance due to the Jars singular curiosity. I agree with Dandelion,
these folks did not have much more to do than sit around wondering, scratching, sniffing, simmering, philosophising, and finally maybe just maybe, getting up and poking the thing with a sharp stick? I think that would have taken the fun out of it to actually open the Jar, or would it have, I guess you would have to ask Thedy.

[This message has been edited by uncle (edited 05-27-2002).]

Heh-heh. Of course in the Hitchcock show Charlie was silly enough to leave her hair clip on and was found out by a little neighbor girl. In the story, the implication is he was never caught.

Dandelion, I never knew Hitch took a stab at it, I'm not surprised though. I like Rays version better, makes ya quiver.