The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Hero's Journey

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Through the eyes of a wallflower In Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the hero’s journey begins with Charlie starting his freshman year of high school. Charlie just wants to make new friends to help him get through these next four years. This is shown when he is writing to his pen pal who he calls “friend”. In the letter he states that his best friend Michael “shot and killed himself because he had problems at home” (Chbosky 5). When Charlie found out he was very confused and shocked, and often times putting the blame on himself. Charlie’s Aunt Helen also sexually abused Charlie when he was younger; and has passed away. Charlie has trouble coping with this and feels very alone. These events are often on Charlie’s mind, affecting his depression and making him a very quiet, introverted, and self conscious individual. …show more content…

He is able to put the knowledge he has gained from his therapist and friends Sam and Patrick, towards helping him move past his problems and past experiences. Charlie realizes he cannot blame his aunt Helen for sexually abusing him. “It's like if I blamed my Aunt Helen, I would have to blame her dad for hitting her, and the friend of the family that fooled around with her when she was little. And the person that fooled around with him. And God for not stopping this and things that much worse. And I did do that for a while, but then I just couldn't anymore. Because it wasn't going anywhere. Because it wasn't the point” (Chbosky 211). This quote demonstrates Charlie has learnt that nothing comes from blaming people, and if you want to blame one person you have to blame many others as well. He learns that everything happens for a reason, and is able to find comfort and

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