The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Image of the Self Essay

In the first few weeks of school Laurie came home full of stories about Charles, the class rebel. Charles was rude to the teacher, hurt some of the other students, and yelled so loudly that it disrupted other classes in the school. He even hit the teacher, and kicked a presenter that came into their class. During those same weeks, Laurie’s behavior grew worse, mirroring Charles’ problems at school. He became loud and insolent,

Teenagers today face a number of problems, ranging from peer pressure and alcohol, to depression and rape. These severe topics can have an intense effect on a growing child, now, and in the future. Many modern teenagers face the daily struggles of harmful situations, and the good and bad in them. In The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, Charlie faces almost every bad situation imaginable, in a heart breaking and realistic coming of age story. Charlie does not have the grandest high school experience, but the book represents the harsh and cruel reality of what so many students face today. Charlie, also being on the unclear side of what he was experiencing, was also hit hard with the outcomes of his actions. Drugs, alcohol, and sexual interaction contributed to the difficult standards that are held to growing students, in their fight to fit in. Every teen has faced the harsh reality of peer pressure and abuse, which takes a harsh effect on its victims. In the beginning of the story, Charlie faces the death of one of his friend Michael, to suicide. Starting the beginning of Charlie?s coming of age story, also known as a freshman in high school. Throughout the book, peer pressure, substance abuse, the fight to be normal, and the hope to have friends in the first place pushed Charlie to take the wrong path in some situations. Charlie?s coming of age story represents the teenage life today

Gene and Phineas, two contrasting sixteen year olds, are roommates at a boarding school, the Devon School. After meeting for the first time, Gene and Phineas, whose nickname is Finny, engage in several adventures together. These adventures include a treacherous jump from a tree, which only the seventeen year olds do as a requirement for graduation. Gene and Finny also travel to the beach, wrestle with each other, and play a made - up game, blitzball. From the outside in, these activities might paint a picture of a growing friendship, but time will tell otherwise.

The two kids teach Charlie about life, and how to enjoy it. During that time, he develops a crush on Sam, which led to the disbandment of their squad. Charlie must wait it off and think about what he has done, and also wonder what he will do after his friends graduate. The internal conflict is that Charlie must learn to cope with what will happen to his friends after graduation and the feelings of puberty, which is also his external conflict. The main conflict was that he near jeopardized his friendship with his friends, and the outcome was that he waited it out and led to everything being

To begin Laurie came home from the first day and was definitely frustrated. Charles came home and his” voice suddenly became raucous” (Jackson, 345). On the first day of school Laurie told his parents about a boy who received a spanking due to him not obeying the teacher. Charlie was extremely creative coming up with a whole new persona to tell his parents about.

The book may be all of the horrible things aforementioned, but it is also truthful. Stephen Chbosky did not hold back while writing this book, and he has painted a perfect picture of how life was when he was young, as well as shining light on the subjects nobody ever wants to mention, but many people face. Some of these subjects being drugs, homosexuality, and ever more pressing, surviving your teenage years. I do not believe that any teenager could say that their lives are perfect when asked. Everyone has problems, whether it be the kind shown in Perks of Being A Wallflower or others.

Published in 1999, The Perks of Being a Wallflower has won several literary awards from the American Library Association- the ALA Best Books for Young Adults award in 2000, the ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults award in 2002, and the ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers award in 2000 ("YALSA's Book Awards”). Steven Chbosky primarily works as a screenplay writer and director. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was the first novel he wrote and is one of the most popular novels amongst male readers. Charlie is said to resemble Duncan, one of Chbosky’s earlier characters that was created for The Four Corners of Nowhere, Chbosky’s first film, which he wrote and directed (Shuman). There are several controversial topics explored in

Everything was the same, well except for Finn and Jessica. Finn was Charlie’s best friend since before he could remember, and Jessica was the love of Charlie’s life. “Hey Charlie boy!” Finn shouted. “Hi Charlie.” Jessica murmured timdly. “Hey guys. Man this place stinks, and I’ll just never get used to waking up every morning for something I hate.” Charlie grunted. “I hate it too man, but my Pops would kill me if I didn't get good marks, and I mean kill me.” Finn explained. “Same here Charlie, I don’t think anyone really likes school, but I do well anyways. You know maybe we could all study together sometime.” Jessica said. Charlie jumped on this opportunity to hang with Jessica outside of school. “Yes! I mean um...sure I will see if I can.” Charlie eagerly said. Charlie glanced around and noticed a guy standing against a locker down the hall. “Hey guys, I should probably get to class.” Charlie said skeptically. “What do you mean Charlie? There is still 10 minutes until class starts.” Finn questioned. “ I just got to go man!” Charlie said. As Charlie approached the boy against the locker, he reached into his bag for the money he

Charlie is asked to kiss the prettiest girl in the room. Since they are dating, everyone thought that he was going to kiss Mary Elizabeth, they were wrong. Charlie kissed Sam and this caused problems in their friendship. Patrick tells Charlie that it is a good idea for him to stay away from them for a little bit until things cool off. Charlie is all alone again and his flashbacks slowly start coming back.

However, he tries to listen to his father, but it results in him acting impulsively and temporarily ruining his relationships with others (p. 135). With the help of his friends, he eventually learns that it is okay to feel the way he does and think the way he does. Patrick’s stepsister, Sam, is instrumental in teaching Charlie to be honest with himself and others, including recognizing, expressing, and even acting on his emotions (p.

Charlie is shown taking things the wrong way in the book, and dealing with them very inappropriately, for example when jocks started fighting Patrick, Charlie took on four football players and did some damage. Another instants was when he was told to kiss the most beautiful girl in the room and he kissed Sam, which caused a fight between all the friends.

After the death of his best friend and his aunt, Charlie faces new struggles when he arrives for his first day of high school. He meets Patrick and Sam, who become his friends. Charlie did not know it at first, but meeting Patrick and Sam would have a great influence on his future. His two friends attempt to bring stability in his life and

In experiencing these tragic moments, Charlie goes completely dull and emotionless. He is internally distorted by which the depression that consumes him. As time moves along, Charlie finds his “calling” in high school after meeting Sam and Patrick, or I like to call them “the misfits”. These two supporting characters take Charlie completely under the wing and expose him to things like drugs and explicit sexual content to relieve stress. Sam and Patrick show Charlie to let loose and find temporary happiness fore, they believe that lasting happiness is truly non existent. Charlie grows from an attitude of pessimism to optimism after finding that happiness differs from everyone. I personally believe there were two points of climax in this story line, one where Charlie and Sam share a moment in Sam’s bedroom. Sam states “...If somebody likes me, I want them to like the real me, not what they think I am…”(Chbosky 201). I believe this moment shows great growth significance because a Charlie has never felt such an intimate love for

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is an epistolary novel about Charlie, a fifteen-year-old introvert, going through his freshman year of highschool while still coping with the suicide of his best friend Michael, and the death of his beloved Aunt Helen. As the story progresses,Charlie develops a personal bond with his English teacher, Bill, and befriends two seniors, Sam and Patrick. Patrick--or “Nothing” (Chbosky 13) as some people call him--is an openly gay, happy-go-lucky guy who is secretly involved in a relationship with the school’s quarterback, Brad. Charlie instantly falls for Sam, Patrick’s stepsister. Charlie is very blunt and honest, and he confronts Sam about his feelings in explicit detail. Although she does not return the feelings, Charlie, Sam, and Patrick still form a strong friendship throughout the novel.

Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of being a Wallflower is an explicit coming of age novel that gives teenagers a sense of relation with the 16 year old protagonist, Charlie. This book was a bestseller in the year 1999. This book definitely has a more mature content and is very straight to the point, it includes drug usage from parties, sex, and violence. Although this book has explicit content, definitely do not let that distract you from the story.