perks of being a wallflower

Many adolescents when they enter a new school feel like and outcast. This is the story line of the book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower written by Stephen Chbosky. The story is written in letter form, by a boy named Charlie who has just entered high-school. Charlie feels as if he is an outcast because of the fact that he was molested as a child by his late aunt. With the help of Charlie’s new found friendships, he begins to overcome his depression and insecurities.

When Charlie hangs out with his new friends Sam and Patrick, he can act like himself. For instance in the book it states, “Normally I am very shy, but [Patrick] seemed like the kind of guy you could just walk up to at a football game even though you were three years younger and not popular.” What this makes me think is that Charlie feels that he doesn’t have to be scared or timid around his friends, in fact from that moment on in the book, you can see a change in Charlie. This change brings out a happier Charlie, who attends parties, try’s drugs for the first time, and even almost has sex. Without Sam and Patrick, Charlie would still be depressed and constantly punishing himself for what his aunt did to him. Further, after the death of his friend Michael, Charlie realizes how it would be nice to have friends again even more than a girlfriend. Without friends Charlie is lonely and he admits that when he says, “I don't know how much longer I can keep going without a friend. I used to be able to do it very easily, but that was before I knew what having a friend was like.” Charlie without friends is like the world without music because everyone relates to music as Charlie relates to his friends.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower which was beautifully written by Stephen Chbosky tells the story of Charlie, who feels like an outcast in the world ever since he was molested by his aunt as a child. With the help of his new found friends, Charlie feels more in touch with society and himself.