perks of being a wallflower essay conclusion

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen chbosky.

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Introduction

The perks of being a wallflower: plot summary, the perks of being a wallflower: detailed summary & analysis, the perks of being a wallflower: themes, the perks of being a wallflower: quotes, the perks of being a wallflower: characters, the perks of being a wallflower: symbols, the perks of being a wallflower: theme wheel, brief biography of stephen chbosky.

Historical Context of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Other books related to the perks of being a wallflower.

• Full Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• When Written: 1996-1998
• Where Written: California
• When Published: 1999
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Young Adult fiction, epistolary
• Setting: Pittsburgh suburbs
• Climax: Charlie experiences a mental health crisis during which he realizes that his favorite aunt molested him as a child.
• Antagonist: Childhood trauma
• Point of View: First person

Extra Credit for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Muse. Chbosky has directed films starring Emma Watson twice: once for the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower in 2012 and for the most recent Beauty and the Beast adaptation in 2017.

Mentors. Chbosky based the character of Bill, Charlie’s English teacher, on Stewart Stern, who was the screenwriter for Rebel Without a Cause and Chbosky’s friend and mentor.

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The Perks of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By Emma Cooper

Published: July 31, 2014

On my very first day of high school, I was late to class, and in my rush, I tripped up the stairs as my shoes fell down the stairs. To add insult to injury, I picked myself up and turned around only to realize that an entire classroom of seniors was watching my humiliating ordeal. I flushed, picked up my shoes, and scurried off to my first class of high school five minutes late. High school is a time full of awkwardness, trials, successes, failures, and most of all, growing up. No matter the background from which someone hails, the teenage years are ones of growth and discovery. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a film directed and screen written by Stephen Chbosky, portrays these experiences in an extremely relatable and moving manner which creates a lasting impression and perspective on the teenage experience.

Perks is adapted from Stephen Chbosky’s book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower , and was released in October 2012 with little initial success. On it’s opening weekend it only grossed approximately $228,000 (IMDb). Eventually, however, the box office did begin to pick up and the movie became fairly monetarily successful. Logan Lerman, of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief , Emma Watson, of the Harry Potter series, and Ezra Miller all deliver stellar performances as they lead Perks ’ cast. The film, set in mid-1990’s Pittsburg, PA, portrays a timeless feel as it focuses on the narrator, Charlie, played by Lerman, as he enters his first year of high school an anxious wallflower who is struggling to find his place. However, he soon befriends the radiant and understanding Sam, portrayed by Watson, and her quirky and lively brother Patrick, portrayed by Miller. In fact, one of the best features of the movie is the spectacular acting chemistry and believability between Lerman and Watson. Additionally, Miller’s performance as the charismatic and slightly eccentric friend adds to the overall enjoyment and quality of Perks . Together, the friends open up and deal with issues such as unhealthy relationships, drugs, family pressures, bullying, and more. Almost immediately, Charlie and Sam grow very close and it becomes obvious that there is chemistry between them. As their friendship unfolds, the movie addresses a range of typical and not so typical high school dramas. Furthermore, the atypical issues that Perks deals with are what I believe make the film enthralling and different from other generic high school, coming-of-age movies.

Some critics say that Perks deals only with the same, redundant, teenage, “angsty” dramas that other high school movies commonly deal with. For example, Jordan Mintzer of the Hollywood Reporter said, “… The Perks of Being a Wallflower , a heartfelt but rather generic coming-of-age dramedy” (Mintzer). I believe, however, that his review is short sighted and that the film does, in fact, address more than just the run-of-the-mill problems. Although I cannot spoil all of these details, it becomes very obvious in certain scenes that Charlie is dealing with more than the average high schooler. This can be seen in the consistent references to his Aunt Helen’s death. While it is normal for one to be troubled by a death in the family, the number of times and situations in which Aunt Helen’s death is brought up gives a hint that there is more to Charlie’s issues than meets the eye. For example, any time that Charlie gets very stressed, Aunt Helen is mentioned. In fact, she is brought up enough that she eventually becomes a major character. While, one is not initially sure why so much attention is paid to Aunt Helen, it is obvious that the movie is dealing with more than just generic high school problems.

Another factor that makes Perks a good movie is the quality acting and the resultant depth of the characters. Some critics, such as Richard Corliss, bash the movie for casting adult actors: “Oh to be 20 again, and in high school! That’s the implicit theme of The Perks of Being a Wallflower … and of the many other rite-of-passage movies that cast actors in their early twenties to play kids four to six years younger” (Corliss). While it is true that Perks ’ actors were, in fact, in their early twenties, they all look and act convincingly like students in high school. Furthermore, Corliss’ criticism is invalidated by the quality of the acting portrayed consistently throughout the film. Lerman does a fantastic job of playing the anti-social wallflower, Charlie, and Watson is the perfect depiction of the confident and upbeat Sam. Together, their chemistry reels the viewer in to experience every emotional moment. In one of the best scenes exemplifying their stellar acting, Sam kisses Charlie for the first time. Charlie’s stuttering, hesitation, and even body language contradict but also mesh perfectly with Sam’s deliberate and reassuring actions in order to create an extremely believable first kiss sequence. Lerman and Watson play their leading roles in such a perfect manner that anyone can believe they are in high school. Additionally, everyone can relate to them and their experiences no matter what one's personal background may be.

One scene that shows the overall excellence of Perks is the final tunnel scene. In this sequence, the trio of friends drives through a tunnel and stands up while listening to “the song,” an experience which has played a major role in their friendship. Many critics did actually praise this scene for its effectiveness, and I agree whole-heartedly with them. As critic Ian Buckwalter, said, “The film is filled with moments like [the tunnel scene], where the director triggers genuine sentimentality and waves of nostalgia through interaction between sound and image” (Buckwalter). Charlie narrates the scene, as he does many other scenes, as if he were writing a letter to the audience. The reoccurring narration allows an element of insightfulness and depth that many other coming-of-age movies lack. In addition, the background music behind the narration is a light twinkling variation of bell sounds that compliments the narration perfectly. At the end of the narration, Charlie’s voice cuts out and David Bowie’s song, “Heroes,” swells to the front just as the trio exits the tunnel. This combination of music emotes a feeling of inspiration, bravery, and hope. The tunnel scene is just one example of the film's fantastic soundtrack and audio mixing, which is consistently effective throughout the entire film. Even further, the cinematography and camera angles used in the tunnel sequence focus heavily on the faces of the characters with bright bulbs of light all around them. These two images, when put together, create in the viewer's mind the image of hope and the idea of heading towards the light at the end of the actual and figurative tunnel. Together, the narration, background music, and cinematography create a scene that sends chills across one’s skin every single time. The tunnel scene, and the entire film, effectively uses film techniques and ethos in order to appeal to the audience’s emotions and cause them to feel as if they are in the movie, in the situations, and personally connected with the characters and their teenage experience.

Finally, I strongly recommend The Perks of Being a Wallflower to anyone because I believe it is well produced, superbly acted, effectively uses film techniques and ethos, and is a relatable story which strongly conveys the fact that many issues which may seem tragic oftentimes actually help one grow and mature. I especially recommend the film to its target audience of teenagers, as the lesson about life’s issues is one that every high schooler needs to understand. Perks is a timeless and relatable movie which I have already seen twice and would gladly see again.

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Works Cited

Buckwalter, Ian. "How 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Breaks an Old Filmmaking Curse." The Atlantic . N.p., 12 Sept. 2012. Web.

Corliss, Richard. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A Teen Angel’s Dreamy Angst." Entertainment . N.p., 13 Sept. 2012. Web.

IMDb. IMDb.com , n.d. Web.

Mintzer, Jordan. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Toronto Review - The Hollywood Reporter." The Hollywood Reporter . N.p., 07 Sept. 2012. Web.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower . Stephen Chbosky. Summit Entertainment, 2012. Film.

• Where and how does the author of the piece engage with counterarguments? Do you think that the author’s interaction with these critics is ethical? Why or why not? Give at least one example.
• One of the challenges and opportunities of discussing films is that films often incorporate different media (sound, still images, moving images, lighting, text), all of which contribute to the rhetoric of the piece. What specific multimedia aspects of the film does Cooper mention that strengthen the claim of her review?
• The second paragraph of the essay offers background information for the film and a summary of the plot without spoilers for the reader who has not seen this film. What kind of information does Cooper interweave in the review that seems to be important for readers to determine whether they should watch the film? How does Cooper summarize the plot, giving specific details, without giving away the end?

Emma Cooper

Emma Cooper is a biology major and international development studies minor from Wichita, Kansas. On campus, she calls Lewis Hall her home and is passionate about working with GlobeMed and Best Buddies. In the future, she hopes to attend medical school and become a pediatric neurologist. Her piece, "The Perks of The Perks of Being a Wallflower ," is a movie review and analysis of Steven Chobsoky’s movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower . Inspiration for this piece came from the viewing of the movie and the strong impact that it had on Emma. She would like to thank her Writing and Rhetoric instructor, professor Deborah Forteza, for all of her help with this piece and for improving her writing ability.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

106 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Part 1, Chapters 6-10

Part 2, Chapters 11-20

Part 2, Chapters 21-25

Part 3, Chapters 26-37

Part 4, Chapters 38-51 and Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Explain the relevance of the title in relation to Charlie’s character. What is a “wallflower”? And what does Charlie gain by being one?

Abuse, both sexual and physical, plays a large role throughout the novel. How does the abuse that Charlie experiences and witnesses directly influence his character? And how does secrecy play a role in these abuses?

In Chapter 39, Charlie mentions feeling nostalgic for “bad things”(139). How does he define nostalgia? And how does this relate to his aunt Helen?

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By stephen chbosky, the perks of being a wallflower quotes and analysis.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.” Charlie, Page 11

Charlie is constantly in search of greater understanding. He wants to better understand his family, his friends, and the general society around him: he wants to know why people do the things that they do, and he wants to understand the sides of these individuals that they choose not to show to the public. Most importantly, he wants to understand himself. This quote begins the series of letters to the unnamed "friend," and it shows how Charlie is trying to come to terms with the various events in his life, both happy and sad, and to achieve a sense of reconciliation so that he can consider himself whole. The questions he is asking about himself in these simple sentences are questions that he asks about everyone around him. This quote also foreshadows the traumatic events that Charlie has experienced, as revealed later in the book. It sets the stage for the rest of the novel, and it gives an intimate tone to the letters, one that the reader can easily latch onto for the remainder of the story.

"He's a wallflower...You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand." Patrick, Page 95

When Patrick says this about Charlie during the Homecoming Weekend party, he contrasts the "perks" of being a wallflower with the negative aspects, which are seen in Charlie's difficulty interacting with others and preoccupation with observing rather than participating. Patrick affirms Charlie's position in society: the reserved Charlie is able to sit back and listen, yet he still understands and is valuable to his friends. This validation of Charlie's behavior is a turning point in the novel. From this point forward, it is easier for Charlie to find value in himself. He finds it easier to participate in the events around him, and he spends less time second-guessing what he is about to say or do. He may still struggle with his deep and complex thoughts, often reverting back to a reflective position, but he finally has the confidence to act and feel as though he belongs.

"When we got out of the tunnel, Sam screamed this really fun scream, and there it was. Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. Sam sat down and started laughing. Patrick started laughing. I started laughing. And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." Charlie, Page 98

As he drives through Pittsburgh with the girl he loves and his best friend, Charlie starts the process of living in the moment and soaking up what the present has to offer. Many times throughout his letters, Charlie describes the situations of other people and tries to delve deeper into the causes of their actions, but this drive marks the first instance of firm focus on himself and on how he is feeling in a precise moment: infinite. He and his friends can do anything or feel anything: happiness is not out of reach. Charlie's tendency to reflect first is not abandoned in this scene, since he still remarks that the lights represent everything that makes him wonder. But now, he is able to observe and participate simultaneously. His feelings of infinity are the culmination of many influences - sexual awareness of Sam, friendship with Patrick, and the sheer happiness of being a group, of enjoying music and laughter. Together, they are endless.

"I asked Patrick if he felt sad that he had to keep it a secret, and Patrick just said that he wasn't sad because at least now, Brad doesn't have to get drunk or stoned to make love." Charlie, Page 109

This quote showcases two major themes in the novel, identity and secrecy. Even though Patrick feels confident in his identity and does not want to hide his relationship with Brad, he still must do so because of Brad's wishes. Patrick's identity is not just shaped by his own wishes; it is also shaped by the actions and demands of others, such as Brad. Patrick's acceptance of this shows a remarkable level of patience, which Charlie admires and tries to emulate in his own life. Charlie's participation in the secrecy surrounding the Patrick and Brad's homosexual relationship represents an advance in his friendship with Patrick. At many points in his life, Charlie holds onto the secrets of others, in addition to his own secrets. This secret is just one of many that he must maintain.

"Once on a yellow piece of paper with green lines he wrote a poem And he called it "Chops" because that was the name of his dog And that's what it was all about And his teacher gave him an A And his mother hung it on the kitchen door and read it to his aunts That was the year Father Tracy Took all the kids to the zoo And he let them sing on the bus And his little sister was born with tiny toenails and no hair And his mother and father kissed a lot And the girl around the corner sent him a Valentine signed with a row of X's and he had to ask his father what the X's meant And his father always tucked him in bed at night And was always there to do it Once on a piece of white paper with blue lines he wrote a poem And he called it "Autumn" because that was the name of the season And that's what it was all about And his teacher gave him an A and asked him to write more clearly And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door because of its new paint And the kids told him that Father Tracy smoked cigars And left butts on the pews And sometimes they would burn holes That was the year his sister got glasses with thick lenses and black frames And the girl around the corner laughed when he asked her to go see Santa Claus And the kids told him why his mother and father kissed a lot And his father never tucked him in bed at night And his father got mad when he cried for him to do it Once on a paper torn from his notebook he wrote a poem And he called it "Innocence: A Question" because that was the question about his girl And that's what it was all about And his professor gave him an A and a strange steady look And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door because he never showed her That was the year that Father Tracy died And he forgot how the end of the Apostle's Creed went And he caught his sister making out on the back porch And his mother and father never kissed or even talked And the girl around the corner wore too much makeup That made him cough when he kissed her but he kissed her anyway because that was the thing to do And at three A.M. he tucked himself into bed his father snoring soundly That's why on the back of a brown paper bad he tried another poem And he called it "Absolutely Nothing" Because that's what it was really all about And he gave himself an A and a slash on each damned wrist And he hung it on the bathroom door because this time he didn't think he could reach the kitchen. Poem read by Charlie, Pages 167-173

Charlie reads this poem aloud at the Secret Santa party. The poem was given to him by Michael, a friend of his who committed suicide; at first, Charlie does not realize that the poem is allegedly a suicide note. As Charlie reads the note aloud, he attains greater understanding of the poem, noting that he doesn't think he likes the end of the poem. The poem reflects the darkness that underlies so much of Charlie's life: while this poem is incredibly sad, Charlie doesn't truly realize how dark it is until many days after he reads it aloud. His ability to live and operate in the midst of the poem's darkness hints at the darkness that he lives with every day.

"You ever think, Charlie, that our group is the same as any other group like the football team? And the only real difference between us is what we wear and why we wear it?" Patrick, Page 363

One of the most beautiful parts of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is that people from very different backgrounds and age groups can relate to its story. Even though it addresses a very specific set of issues, this novel is able to strike a chord with a vast group of readers. Patrick alludes to this commonality of experience in this quote. He and his friends may be misfits who star in Rocky Horror and write for a fanzine, but their hopes and dreams of fitting in and finding happiness are not unlike the hopes and dreams of their classmates.

"Charlie. Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable. I just want you to know that you're special...and the only reason I'm telling you is that I don't know if anyone else ever has." Bill, Page 425

Bill says this to Charlie when Charlie comes to his apartment for dinner. He has just thanked Charlie for all of his hard work during the year, and he is telling him how amazingly gifted he is - not just as a student, but as a person. Both Bill's need to reach out to Charlie in this way and Bill's uncertainty that other people have done so speak to the way that Charlie carries himself in public. Given this reaction from Bill, it is clear that Charlie walks around with little self confidence: his family has failed him in terms of providing solid support during these difficult years of his life.

"In the silence, I remembered this one time that I never told anybody about. The time we were walking. Just the three of us. And I was in the middle. I don't remember where we were walking to or where we were walking from. I don't even remember the season. I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere." Charlie, Pages 467-468

This quote speaks to the power of Charlie's friends in his life. Once a misfit who needed somewhere to fit in, he has found a group of friends (centered around Patrick and Sam) who love and care for him. It does not take much for Charlie to feel happiness when he is with them, but when he is without them his life begins to crumble. The value of their friendship shines through in this simple memory: Charlie loved just walking with them when he was between them both. He had been craving a sense of belonging - something that he couldn't find within his family, but that he was able to discover with Sam and Patrick.

"If somebody likes me, I want them to like the real me, not what they think I am. And I don't want them to carry it around inside. I want them to show me, so I can feel it, too." Sam, Page 474

Sam challenges Charlie to participate on an entirely different level than the level Bill indicated at the beginning of the school year. Sam knows that Charlie loves her, but the love that he describes is not enough for Sam. She wants him to truly express himself and act on his affectionate feelings rather than to sit back and wait for Sam to make a move. In this challenge, Sam also encourages Charlie to be more honest and to show his real self. Instead of allowing Charlie to worry about what to say and do, or to obsess about how this will affect people's perceptions of him, she challenges Charlie to be honest about his true self. Ultimately, Sam cares deeply about Charlie and wants the best for him.

"So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them." Charlie, Page 497

Charlie says this at the end of the novel as he is coming to terms with the fact that his Aunt Helen had sexually molested him as a child. He has spent so much time fixating on the past experiences of others in order to better understand the world around him, but now he realizes that these perceptions of society cannot determine his fate. Charlie here understands that he has agency and control over his life, and he knows that Aunt Helen's actions, however terrible they were, do not need to define him. He can still be a writer, friend, boyfriend, and caring person. His childhood experiences do not set him on a path to becoming an abusive person, and this realization is empowering. Charlie, armed with this information, can begin to see the world in a new way.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

why do sam and craig break up

d. He's been cheating on her

Where in the story does Charlie meet people with difficult personal issues like cheating, abortion, and drug use?

February 15, 1992

That’s when she told me she was pregnant.

I would tell you about the rest of the night, but I honestly don’t remember much about it. It’s all a very sad daze. I do know that her boyfriend said it wasn’t his baby, but...

1. What do we learn about how Aunt Helen was? What happened to her when she was younger? Also, how did this affect her as she got older?

Aunt Helen was molested by a family friend, and she went into a downward spiral with drinking and drugs. You need to ask your question one at a time. Thanks.

Study Guide for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower study guide contains a biography of Stephen Chbosky, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

• Coming of Age in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Content with the Mediocre: The Underside of Acceptance in Chbosky's Novel
• Tragedy and Toxicity in Kitchen and The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Lesson Plan for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
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Wikipedia Entries for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

• Introduction