Themes In The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

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“Adolescence represents an inner emotional upheaval, a struggle between the eternal human wish to cling to the past and the equally powerful wish to get on with the future.” (Louise J. Kaplan). The coming of age years represent a turbulent period of life where many individuals are faced with psychological issues which pose as exasperating roadblocks in the journey to adulthood. Issues revolving around crisis of identity, self-worth, desire for independence and acceptance constantly arise, leaving adolescents in a constant state of uncertainty. This is the rite of passage for majority of youth who live a stereotypical lifestyle. However, within the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Steven Chbosky and the film It’s Kind of a Funny Story, directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, the protagonists …show more content…
Both works delicately explore the relevant themes of how psychological issues and moral growth manifest through the coming of age. Although Craig was raised in a healthy and supportive environment compared to Charlie who had faced severe childhood traumas, both characters develop similar psychological conditions which must be overcome in order to successfully transition from troubled adolescents into mature and multifaceted young adults. The psychological issues experienced by adolescents are universal, whereas the causes and triggers from which they are formed may vary extensively. The life events through a child's upbringing may range from mundane to highly traumatic yet both works illustrate the underlying fact that psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and social isolation may develop regardless of where an individual lays on the range. In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie experiences extreme cases of depression, social isolation and emotional instability. Further into the novel, it is revealed that Charlie developed these psychological issues as

Perks Of Being A Wallflower Essay

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Every generation has a set of books that speaks for that generation and what they go through; for this generation, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, written by Stephen Chbosky, is one of those books. The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows the story of a teenager going through the struggles of high school, which are enhanced due to his social awkwardness, such as drugs, smoking, sex, sexual orientation, abusive relationships, friendship, and rape all in the form of…

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Charlie The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

the Protagonist of the novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” especially struggles with this topic. In the epistolary coming-of-age novel, which takes place in the early 90’s the protagonist Charlie, describes his experiences in his first year of high school. His Friendships, Family and inner conflicts with trying to progress play major roles. Alienation, Innocence and Identity are major themes in the novel. Despite being a huge commercial success after being published 1999 and having been included…

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Looking For Ali And Tpobaw Sppeech Pdf Essay

“The Perks Of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky is an influential story about a socially awkward teenager Charlie who is used to living his life with no meaningful purpose, until he meets Sam and her step-brother Patrick, a witty and outgoing duo. Aspects of belonging are explicitly evoked in this drama. Charlie’s developing relationships with his family and friends as he escapes intense alienation, and the rejection he goes through from a materialistically driven society, are all themes that…

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written by Kate Grenville, explores the idea of circumstances- such as past experiences, the people around us and social expectations- being more important than choice in shaping a person’s identity. Comparably in Stephen Chbosky’s film, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", identity and how it is influenced by different circumstances is also shown as a central theme. A wide range of literary and film techniques are used in both of these texts to show how the characterisation of William Thornhill, Charlie…

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The perks of being a wallflower Essay

The perks of being a wallflower Theme: Friendship, Drugs, and Sex. Summary: The perks of being a wallflower is a novel written from the point of view of a high school freshman, the main characteristic is Charlie. Structure of the novel is based on Charlie's role as a stranger sent letters to another person. In the first year of high school, his friend Michael committed suicide, he felt very alone. In the following days, he met a student named Patrick, and Patrick introduced his sister Sam to…

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Catcher In The Rye Anxiety

Catcher in the Rye (Catcher) by J.D Salinger and Perks of being a Wallflower (Perks) directed by Stephen Chbosky are two texts which discuss the idea of anxiety in teens when faced with different social scenarios. The composers have been influenced by personal and dominant values as well as their context which shapes the portrayal of individuality and individual management of trauma. Though society is shown to transition over time, Catcher and Perks emphasise the longevity of anxiety and how this…

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The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Analysis

One of the most common and reoccurring themes in The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the theme of sexual abuse. This theme that impacts millions of people in the real world as well as the lives of the novel’s character is weaved throughout Chbosky’s story. Characters such as Aunt Helen, Sam, and Charlie, the main protagonist, all fall victim to this atrocity and suffer from the scars it leaves. In the song Warrior, Demi Lovato is able to show that while these scars cannot be healed, a “treatment”…

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Writers Style Reading Response Essay

Reading Response Perks of Being a Wallflower Antonia Vergara 4) Describe the Writers Style Stephen Chbosky, the author of Perks of Being a Wallflower, has a very distinct writing style. The book is written in a series of letter to a stranger from a boy named Charlie. Each letter starts off with Charlie writing the date and “Dear Friend.” Charlie is perceived as a very awkward fifteen year old who is struggling to be normal throughout his first year of high school. Because the entire book is written…

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Rock Horror Picture Show Analysis

norms in regards to sexual activities; her lyrics are used by youth both in the 1970’s and today, five decades later, to assert their control, or lack thereof, in courtship, dating, and sexual interactions. In the more modern example, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, character Patrick, played by actor Ezra Miller, expresses his drag identity by dressing up as Frank N. Furter and parading his homosexuality in the context of the RHPS…

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Ambiguity Of Blankets

are alive. And you stand up and see the lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder, when you were listening to that song on that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite” (The Perks of Being a…

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