Analysis Of Perks Of Being A Wallflower

He sees things. He keeps quiet. He understands. The Perks of Being a Wallflower’s main character Charlie, is a wallflower: reserved, isolated, and observant. Like a fly on the wall, he stays in the background, and goes unnoticed by many. In fact, he has not felt true recognition since he was a child, when his Aunt Helen visited from time to time. Aunt Helen made him feel loved and wanted, however, as a child, he did not recognize her actions for what they truly were: sexual abuse. Throughout his life, Charlie experiences flashbacks of moments spent with his Aunt, eventually understanding her actions as sexual misconduct, and suffering from the emotional turmoil stemming from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Although the typical representation of PTSD in movies can often alienate viewers, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an exception, because Charlie’s flashbacks allow us to be empathetic to his situation, normalizing the stigma around suicidal-depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops in some people who have gone through distressing, dangerous, or startling events. According to Psychology Today, the symptoms of the disorder can range from mild to severe, but often include flashbacks to the event, nightmares, and or stressful thoughts. Furthermore, sexual assault accounts for the highest PTSD rates in both men and women, yet on screen, it is normally depicted as a war-driven disorder. In the film, Charlie suffers from PTSD due