The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Depression
Synopsis and Introduction to Charlie
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age epistolary novel written by American novelist Stephen Chbosky set in the suburbs of Pittsburgh in the 1990's (Wikipedia, 2012). It follows the life of a teenage boy named Charlie.
Charlie is a 15 year old boy who is on the verge of beginning his freshman year in high school. He lives with both his parents and his sister in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One look at Charlie may render him a normal, introverted, and shy boy, but his mind is dancing with intelligence beyond his years and overflowing with creativity in the form of his own unique writing. Contrastingly, mental illness does not discriminate. Although a normal boy on the surface, his brilliance is often met with despair, regression, and pervasive thoughts of hopelessness.
Charlie's past struggles most likely made him more susceptible and prone to developing a mental illness. Since he was a child, Charlie's “favourite person in the world” would be his aunt. She was killed in a car accident on his 7th birthday. Charlie witnesses his sister being physically and emotionally abused by her boyfriend, and although he wants to do something about it, she says that she still loves her boyfriend and that it is okay. His best friend committed suicide several months before they were supposed to start high school together, which caused his emotional and physical deterioration. When he begins high school, he becomes friends with Patrick. Patrick was in a secret relationship with a closeted gay student, Brad. Brad was beaten by his father when he found out. To try to overcompensate, Brad begins tormenting Patrick at school, and that is when Charlie snaps. He fights with Brad and threatens to “blind” him if he hurts Patrick again. Feeling accepted by his new group, he develops feelings for Sam, Patrick's sister. When the two start to become sexually active, Charlie feels uneasy and has to stop. Repressed memories of
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age epistolary novel written by American novelist Stephen Chbosky set in the suburbs of Pittsburgh in the 1990's (Wikipedia, 2012). It follows the life of a teenage boy named Charlie.
Charlie is a 15 year old boy who is on the verge of beginning his freshman year in high school. He lives with both his parents and his sister in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One look at Charlie may render him a normal, introverted, and shy boy, but his mind is dancing with intelligence beyond his years and overflowing with creativity in the form of his own unique writing. Contrastingly, mental illness does not discriminate. Although a normal boy on the surface, his brilliance is often met with despair, regression, and pervasive thoughts of hopelessness.
Charlie's past struggles most likely made him more susceptible and prone to developing a mental illness. Since he was a child, Charlie's “favourite person in the world” would be his aunt. She was killed in a car accident on his 7th birthday. Charlie witnesses his sister being physically and emotionally abused by her boyfriend, and although he wants to do something about it, she says that she still loves her boyfriend and that it is okay. His best friend committed suicide several months before they were supposed to start high school together, which caused his emotional and physical deterioration. When he begins high school, he becomes friends with Patrick. Patrick was in a secret relationship with a closeted gay student, Brad. Brad was beaten by his father when he found out. To try to overcompensate, Brad begins tormenting Patrick at school, and that is when Charlie snaps. He fights with Brad and threatens to “blind” him if he hurts Patrick again. Feeling accepted by his new group, he develops feelings for Sam, Patrick's sister. When the two start to become sexually active, Charlie feels uneasy and has to stop. Repressed memories of