Peer Pressure in The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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“The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem of those who think alike than those who think differently.”(Friedrich Nietzsche) In the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, the three main characters Charlie, Sam and Patrick illustrate peer pressure throughout different perspectives. Charlie is exposed to new things that allow him to mature and grow. Sam has experiences a pressure upon herself to keep up with her reputation although she began to realize right from wrong. Patrick is forced to keep his sexuality preferences private that subsequently may cause him harm. Peer pressure can help a person develop and grow as an individual. However, too much peer pressure can lead to a person losing sight of their identity.

Charlie begins his journey in high school as an independent individual. The novel introduces Charlie as a thoughtful, observant and different character that tries to fit in. Throughout Charlie meets two friends, Sam and Patrick, which help him fit in in the consequence of exposing him to drugs and alcohol. Charlie has tried many drugs such as marijuana, LSD, cigarettes and alcohol. “I ate the brownie, and it tasted a little weird, but it was still a brownie, so I still liked it. Since you are older, I think you know what kind of brownie it was. After thirty minutes, the room started to slip away from me.”(Chbosky 35) The quote describes Charlie’s first time using drugs when he was innocent and did not understand why the brownie had a weird taste. Later, Sam explained to him what the brownie contained. As part of growing up, he has been brought to light of negative resources. Those resources have brought him to constantly using them to relieve stress, deal with diff...

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...any beneficial and unbeneficial resources that only helps him develop. Sam’s high school life has been full of ups and downs, however now she learned from her behavior and past. Now, when she is off to collage she will be starting a new page in life that will only precede her to a better path. Patrick learns to not trust every person or fall in love with him unless he is sure he won’t be betrayed or taken advantage off but be treated appropriately. So, throughout the characters journey, they faced obstacles that affect them in positive and negative ways. As the protagonist says: “But because things change and friends leave and life doesn’t stop for anyone.” (Chbosky 145). Each one of the characters begins a new journey and starts a new page in his or her life.

Works Cited

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York: MTV /Gallery, 2012. Print.

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