The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Essay Example

Many marginalised groups find that their cultural identity is not valued in the dominant world-view of their society.  Many of these books are about how our culture defines us, for both good and bad.  What is the influence of the book’s society upon its protagonist?  

In this world, there are people who live for themselves and others who watch people live. The latter lifestyle is highlighted in Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a novel where protagonist Charlie experiences his freshman year of high school as a timid individual through letters towards an anonymous friend. At the start, Charlie struggles to find a place at school due to his shyness and vulnerability by being in the background of most situations, which include romantic and social troubles. However, Charlie later comes to realize that life is worth diving into and experiencing with the help of his friends, Sam and Patrick. Throughout The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a high school culture with its societal values of freedom and inclusivity force a close-minded individual like Charlie to realize their restricting struggles, understand the purpose in a life worth living, and experience the world around them without hesitancy.

The teenage concerns of trying to fit in and become a people-pleaser points a direct finger at the protagonist, which exposes Charlie to the reality that he is living in the background of his own life. At the beginning of the novel, Charlie attends a party hosted by Bob, a senior, where he gets high and stumbles. By this time, Charlie overhears Patrick calling him a wallflower because Charlie “sees things, keeps quiet about them, and understands” (Chbosky 99). While Patrick does not mean this term in a negative connotation, it is clear that he notices Charlie’s tendencies to be on the quiet and vulnerable side. Due to his experiences, such as witnessing a date rape and getting molested as a young child, Charlie keeps silent on the truths that haunt him the most. Furthermore, Sam explains to Charlie that “[he] cannot just sit there and put everybody’s life ahead of [his]” (471); this is a response to Charlie’s missed opportunity to pursue his romantic interests. Charlie’s selfless actions seem to help others, but not himself in any way. For one, Charlie’s values of individualism do not align with his actions of submitting to his peers. He is forced to accept his struggles as someone who does not want to be in the spotlight, which is understandable. However, Charlie receives the truth that he is only a bystander and does not participate freely in life. By becoming exposed to high school life where students act on their own accord, both good and bad, Charlie realizes that he is not fulfilling his purpose of life when he lets others push him around.

After witnessing his peers establish a carefree teenager attitude, Charlie is taught to live without regrets and the benefit of participation. When Charlie assimilates into high school where friendships fall apart, Charlie gains the lesson that “things change, friends leave, and life [does not] stop for anybody,” (341). Charlie learns that growing up has its ups and downs, even if he is afraid of change. After recalling a scenario where he finally knows that he cannot “choose where [he comes] from, but [he] can choose where [he goes] from there," (496). Charlie is pushed to fill the mold of a strong minded student who accepts the changes in life. The overwhelming events and drama in high school further point to Charlie’s determination to pursue a life worth living. He transforms into a carefree individual with the notion that he has to seize the day. A culture of ever-changing lifestyles pushes the narrative that one is the main character of their own story. For Charlie, he learns the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone for the better through the teenage value of having fun.

Through the positive reinforcement of inclusivity, a high school culture helps Charlie to find his happiness in life at times when he lacks hope. As a result of the support and encouragement from his friends, Charlie is able to push down his walls of shyness and break through into an open-minded individual. By the end, he completely pursues the “only perspective to really be there” since it is “okay to feel things…and be who he is about them,” (497). Charlie grows into a confident person, ready to take on any challenge in front of him because of the positive surroundings. By persevering to reach the light at the end of the tunnel, he is also establishing a ground where his high school journey will continue to flourish. The benefits of friendship in high school teach Charlie to live with no regrets and seize the day. As Sam and Patrick graduate high school as seniors, Charlie goes on the last night ride with them; he starts to not care and think about the doubts, yet “stands in the tunnel, really there, and that was enough to make [him] feel infinite,” (501). At the end of his freshman year, Charlie is directed to become a more outgoing person by taking risks. The relaxing nature of high school influences him to experience the little things in life. By doing this, Charlie defines his happiness through special moments that he enjoys with the surrounding people. With that said, the high school values of inclusivity and cheerfulness push Charlie to break out of his shell and seize the opportunities in front of him.

With the advent of high school and its pressures, Charlie becomes transparent about his lack of participation in life, which fuels him to make a change. At the same time, the energetic teenage attitude pushes Charlie to take initiative in situations where he is his own main character. Finally, Charlie applies these lessons of an inclusive culture to establish his own life and seize the day. The values of freedom and inclusivity within high school influence Charlie to break down his walls and bloom into a flower.