How Books Help Charlie’s Mental Health in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a book that I can relate to more than others. Charlie, the main character, is an introspective, socially awkward high school freshman whose friendship with his teacher Bill is centered on literature.
For isolation…
Charlie would relate to Boo Radley, but he would also learn from the character’s gradual integration into Maycomb society, which occurs through good deeds and social contact. The first book Charlie is given when he starts school is Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
For growing up…
Charlie’s favorite book as a child was J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, which he describes as a fantasy that allows him to “participate” in social activities rather than being completely immersed in the plot, perhaps as a lesson on growing up or the difficult transition between childhood and adulthood.
For being a “wallflower”…
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is not discussed in detail by Charlie, but the reader can make connections between Charlie and Fitzgerald on their own. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is perhaps the most obvious book to recommend to Charlie.
For wanting to be alone…
When Charlie’s family wants him to read Walden by Henry David Thoreau when he appears unsettled or unhappy, he spends time alone in his bedroom reading, which I believe helps to calm him down and give him a sense of calm.
Others referenced books include:
JK Rowling’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those books that you can’t put down. As a teenager, I was irritated by the book’s use of language, but I seem to have grown out of it, owing to how much I can relate to the novel.
What type of books does Bill give to Charlie to read and what does he hope Charlie’s reading them will accomplish?
Charlie reads To Kill a Mockingbird in English class and enjoys it; his English teacher, Bill Anderson, notices Charlie’s enthusiasm for reading and writing and assigns him additional books to read and essays to write.
What is Charlie’s favorite book in perks?
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is an obvious choice for a book to recommend to Charlie.
What book does Charlie read multiple times?
Summary: December 30, 1991, and January 1, 1992. After finishing The Catcher in the Rye, Charlie reads it three more times in four days, and he spends much of the Christmas holidays driving alone, visiting Aunt Helen’s grave first.
Who is Charlie writing to in Perks of Being a Wallflower book?
During the 1991u20131992 school year, Charlie, the 15-year-old protagonist, starts writing letters to an unknown recipient addressed ” dear friend ” about his own life.
Why does Patrick call Charlie a wallflower?
Patrick refers to Charlie as a wallflower not as an insult or a derogatory nickname, but as a term of endearment. Patrick refers to Charlie as a wallflower during the party that Patrick, Sam, and Charlie attend after the homecoming game.
What books did Charlie Kelmeckis read?
They’re all his favorites, according to Charlie.
- Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
- F. Scott Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise
- John Knowles’ A Separate Peace
- J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan
- F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
- J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
- Jack Kerouac’s On the Road
- William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch
How did Charlie’s sister react when her boyfriend hit her?
I found it disturbing and strange that Charlie’s sister only became interested in the BF after he hit her; prior to that incident, she had been dismissive and even abusive towards him, and I thought her parents handled the situation admirably.
What book did Mr Anderson give Charlie?
Mr. Anderson gives Charlie a list of books that includes Albert Camus’ The Stranger and Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.
What did Aunt Helen do to Charlie?
She used Charlie as a vehicle for her sexual abuse, sexually molesting and touching him while his sister slept, and telling him to be quiet was her way of telling him not to tell anyone about her touches.
Why does Patrick kiss Charlie?
The few letters in the book where Patrick goes down the rabbit hole reminded me of that scene in the movie where he kisses Charlie: he’s trying to keep himself numb, he’s trying to keep the party going, and then he can’t anymore.
When Charlie introduces himself to the kid who has the locker next to his what does the kid say?
What does the kid say when Charlie introduces himself to the kid who has the locker next to his? u201cCharlie! My best friend in the world!u201d
Why is Charlie enjoying school now much more than when he first started?
Charlie is starting to enjoy school because he gets to hang out with Patrick and Sam’s friends, including Mary Elizabeth, who is both attractive and intelligent.
Why does Charlie still love Aunt Helen?
Because Charlie tries to forget about his abuse for the majority of the novel, he sees Helen as the only warm person in his otherwise cold family, and he appreciates that she gives him books to read.
Do Sam and Charlie end up together?
Through the kiss before Sam leaves for college and her sadness over leaving Charlie, the movie ends with a happy sense that Sam and Charlie are now in a more romantic relationship than Charlie and the reader had hoped for, as evidenced by their final kiss in the tunnel.
What mental illness did Charlie have in perks?
Charlie, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), was hospitalized for the summer after his best friend committed suicide, and he is about to start his first year of high school, where he fears being known as the weird kid who was hospitalized for the summer and not having any friends.