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The Perks Of Being A Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky

868 Words4 Pages

For this written assessment, I will analyze the main character in the novel The perks of being a wallflower. It is written by Stephen Chbosky and was published in 1999. This is Chbosky´s first novel and it is also semi-autobiographical, which means that the author has included both personal experiences and fictional ideas.
I will discuss, reflect, and describe the main character from my interpretation while using examples from the book.

Charlie Kelmeckis is the main protagonist and narrator of this book. Everything we get to know is entirely from Charlies own perspective. He writes letters about certain stories, situations, and happenings to an unknown person that he refers to as “dear friend”.
For example, the book starts with Charlie …show more content…

Charlie is a sensitive and observant person who often feels like an outsider looking in, but his unique perspective allows him to understand and empathize with others deeply. This is why Patrick talks about Charlie and says that “He is a wallflower.” (Page 40). Then follows it up by saying “You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.” (Page 41.) This is an extensive turning point for Charlie as he goes on with telling this “friend” that he did not know that people looked at him or even thought about him. (Page 41). He is a complicated character, and his struggles and triumphs shape him to be a relatable protagonist. I believe that many teenagers who might be struggling to fit in or seem unable to find their place in the world can recognize themselves in …show more content…

As Charlie develops, the meaning of the term “wallflower” gets deeper. At the start of the novel, Charlie is a wallflower (Page 40.) because he has not got any friends and does not bother to socialize with people. At dances, he quite literally is a wallflower since he stands off to the side against the wall instead of joining in on the fun. If witnessing disturbing situations, like the rape at his older brother’s party (Page 33.), he tends to just be a passive watcher rather than speaking up. For example, with the rape, it took him quite a while before he managed to tell Patrick and Sam about

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