The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Essay

In the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, the stories of many teenagers living in the early 1990s are retold. Their stories reveal how challenging high school can be. From family problems to drug and alcohol consumption, these teenagers overcome many coming of age obstacles. As if turning sixteen was not challenging enough, Charlie deals with friends passing away, fitting in, and maintaining good grades. Charlie’s life may have changed drastically from age fifteen to age sixteen, but the changes that his family and friends experience have just begun. On the surface, Charlie’s family appears to be a typical family consisting of the normal mother, father, and three kids. Although they meet the standard family
criteria, this does not mean they are one big happy family. They have their fair share of problems, some even dating back a generation or two. Charlie’s family is not very skilled in communicating with one another and are certainly not forthcoming with physical affection. Several times throughout the novel, readers discover how Charlie’s mom rarely talks. Charlie even says, “My mom chooses her battles carefully, and I can tell you one thing about my family. When my mom does say something, she always gets her way” (Chbosky 25). But communication is not the only problem Charlie’s family has. When comparing Charlie’s family to Sam and Patrick’s family, there are tremendous differences. “A lot of parents make you feel awkward when you first meet them. But not Sam and Patrick’s. They were friendly all through dinner, and when dinner was over, they left so we could have our party” (Chbosky 65). Sam and Patrick’s parents are warm and inviting as Charlie’s parents are cold and stern. Another difference between the families is the relationships between siblings. Sam and Patrick have a great relationship and always hang out together. Charlie and his siblings barely exchange words let alone hang out together. With everything that has been said, it is easy to assume that Charlie’s family is very dysfunctional but in the end, they all come together to support one another. Expressing feelings can be hard for anyone, but it is outstandingly hard for Charlie. With a lack of social interaction and a family who hardly ever resorts to physical affection, Charlie does not know how to express his feelings. Charlie once said in one of his letters, “I am very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other” (Chbosky 56). In his freshman year of high school, Charlie has gained more knowledge than he had ever expected; he learned how to love and how to be loved. The love between friends, family members, and love-struck teenagers are all mentioned in Charlie’s letters. Throughout the novel, it seems as if Charlie only names the people he really loves. He never mentions the names of his family except for his Aunt Helen. I am not trying to say that Charlie does not love his family because I am sure he does. It just seems like he does not mention their names for a reason. Maybe he does not mention them because they never showed him physical affection. Charlie said, “I remember telling him how Aunt Helen was the only one who hugged me” (Chbosky 91). Charlie’s love for his friends and his sister are expressed frequently throughout the novel. If Charlie did not love his friend, Patrick, he would not have stood up for him when Patrick got into a fight with his secret boyfriend, Brad. It not only takes a lot of courage but a lot of love to defend someone in that situation. Charlie loves his sister so much that he supports her when she gets an abortion. He did not have to drive her to the clinic and care for her after the procedure was done, but he did because he loves her. Overall, I do not think that love is a trait we are born with. It is something we have to learn, experience, and be exposed to. Charlie’s first year of high school exposed him to love and all its meanings. Charlie soaks in anything his friends throw at him.
Whether it be cigarettes, booze, pot, or LSD, Charlie just cannot say no. His friends do not peer pressure him into doing anything he does not want to do. They just encourage it. The end result is not good. Charlie and his friends turn to drugs and alcohol in times of boredom and depression. When Brad refuses to talk to Patrick about their relationship, Patrick turns to alcohol as a solution. For weeks, Patrick and Charlie go out and drink. The habit of turning to alcohol for the answer to everything is not something you want a sixteen year old to pick up on. But alcohol is not the worst thing Charlie and his friends partake in. They all are really into smoking cigarettes. Charlie’s English teacher even gives Charlie a pamphlet on how to quit smoking. These teenagers participate in these activities so often that it is hard to understand how their parents do not know about it. Maybe if they did know, their children would not be victims of substance
abuse. In the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, the stories of many teenagers living in the early 1990s are retold. Readers interpret these stories through Charlie’s perspective and see how challenging high school life can be. With a family that barely speaks to one another, Charlie is socially awkward and lonely. However, when he starts high school, he learns from his friends how to love and how to be loved. When times get tough or boredom gets the best of them, the teens turn to drugs and alcohol as a solution. At times, things do get better but with every step he takes forward, he takes five back. Charlie lives everything and anything but a normal life but with the help from his friends and family, he learns to overcome most challenges thrown his way.

Works Cited
Chbosky, Stephen.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York, NY: Gallery Books, 1999. Print.
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