Teen Stress Survey

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Importance of Aunt Helen's Death/Effects on Charlie

Discuss why Aunt Helen's death is so significant to Charlie. How would it affect his optimistic outlook on his life?

Charlie blames himself for Aunt Helen's death, even though it evidently isn't his fault. Whenever he thinks about this dire event it dramatically worsens his depression, stealing any optimistic thoughts he starts to develop.

Throughout the novel he constantly is battling with himself over this situation, and it becomes extremely difficult for him to stay positive. It was Charlie's birthday, and Aunt Helen was leaving for reasons unknown to Charlie. She told him she wanted the reason to be a secret between them. The words that continuously echo in Charlie's mind were "I'm going to buy your birthday present" (102). Aunt Helen leaves on a snowy evening to buy Charlie a gift, only to be involved in a fatal car accident moments later. A police officer told Charlie the news, but he was in denial and refused to accept the fact that Aunt Helen was no longer alive.

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In addition to many other factors that deeply affect Charlie, the death of Aunt Helen has severely impacted his life in several ways. He has to constantly seek help from psychiatrists (who do a poor job) and write more frequently to the unknown friend in hopes of escaping a deep pit he dug for himself. He writes to his friend "She would be alive if I were born on a day that didn't snow. I would do anything to make this go away. I miss her terribly. I have to stop writing now because I am too sad" (103). Charlie is not just thinking about being born on a day that didn't snow, he's thinking about not being born altogether.

All in all, Charlie has been deeply affected by the loss of Aunt Helen. He even felt guilty for something he didn't know would happen. It wasn't right for him to think that way, and he's very lucky to have very supportive family members and friends.


***After reading this book, I understand the effects of depression and stress on one's life. It has touched me in many ways, and it's funny to think I didn't want to read this book in the first place. The way the author wrote it makes it seem like YOU are Charlie's friend, which makes it easier to understand what he is going through. I would recommend reading this book because it will teach you the importance of self worth and optimism if you should ever face the same issues as Charlie. 

Thank you for reading my posts on The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Perks of Being a Wallflower: Optimism

Discuss why Charlie writes his letters to a person he doesn't know. What is his motive?

Charlie's main motive for writing letters to an anonymous person he calls a "friend" is to get his feelings out without being judged. The letters encourage the friend to look on the positive side of every event, no matter how bad the end result may be. Charlie has experienced many events that traumatized him, such as the death of his best friend and feeling guilty about the death of Aunt Helen. To make things worse, he's constantly in the middle of family disputes. Charlie is always trying to pull himself out of a rut and get his life back on track. The letters help him do that.

There is an event that gives the reader a sense of how Charlie feels. He stays up late one night and sees an infomercial for a product he doesn't need. He calls the number up anyway, only to tell Michelle (the operator) on the other line that he doesn't want the product but instead says, " I hope you are having a good night" (133). Michelle hangs up without saying a word. Charlie says he didn't mind a bit, but it is obvious he feels no one seems to understand what he is going through.

Towards the end of Charlie's series of letters, it is clear to the reader that Charlie doesn't know the person that he has written to for over a year. In his last letter, he tells his friend "...please believe that things are good with me, and even when they're not, they will be soon enough. And I will believe the same about you" (224). It's almost as if Charlie himself is the friend he is writing to, and not the person he picked through a phone book. He encourages himself and his friend that everything will be fine, and gets himself out of depression as a result.

In addition to the theme of self-worth, optimism is key to getting out of depression. His friend did not judge him and his feelings, and Charlie appreciates the fact that his friend understands what he is going through. If Charlie hadn't changed his outlook on life while writing to his friend, he would've ended his own.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Flyer

Self Worth in The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Justify Charlie's actions when he told his teacher about his sister being hit. Did he do the right thing?

Charlie did do the right thing by telling his teacher because he knows that the outcome won't be good if his sister's boyfriend's bad behavior continues. He has already witnessed tons of fights within the family, and he doesn't want to fall back into a deep pit of depression.

Bill (Charlie's teacher) explained the importance of what Charlie witnessed in a brief but powerful statement that describes the concept of self worthiness. He says "We accept the love we think we deserve" (39). This is very important, taking into account that his sister didn't do anything when her boyfriend hit her. She just stood still and acted as if nothing had happened. Charlie had wondered why she did that for the longest time, but now he understands. Charlie's sister thought she deserved that treatment from her boyfriend, therefore she didn't react. Some may argue that Charlie only made his sister upset and didn't help.Through his sister's perspective that would make sense, but Charlie's parents were notified (thanks to Bill), and his dad took care of the rest. The conflict was solved, and disaster was avoided.

Charlie did start to question his moral decision, but his dad reassured him, stating that "Not everyone has a sob story, Charlie. Even if they do, it's no excuse" (39). His dad is trying to tell Charlie that there is no reason to keep a problem to yourself; it's better to tell someone and solve it.

The takeaway message from this is that self worthiness is very significant, and that Charlie did in fact do the right thing for his sister.