·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚Perks of Being a Wallflower analysis·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Perks of Being a Wallflower analysis

At the start of the book (and movie), Charlie's sister hands him a mix tape her boyfriend made for her. Charlie listens to the tape, witnessing a moment that he is not a part of. He falls in love with the song Asleep by The Smiths. Asleep is a song about a person's life ending with their pain. There is an obvious connection to his best friend Micheal, his Aunt Helen, but the song is about him, too. It is a song that represents the network of struggling people in his life, how suffering becomes too unbearable and eternal sleep is your only hope and peace left. How you hope for a better option but are left with even more disappointment. 

At some point, Charlie is listening to a song in a tunnel with his friends (Landslide/Heroes). He falls in love with the song in the moment. He feels infinite listening to it. He feels this way because he is leaving a mark on the world. He had the beginnings of a legacy. He can say he did something that affected people, affected the community. He is an active member in a thrilling and memorable moment.

Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of a kid who lives through other people because he's scared. He is scared of the pain that he sees in everyone's lives. The pain that made his best friend kill himself, his family be abused, his friends being worn down by their lives. But he learns that life is beautiful. That the pain he feels as a voyeur gets better when he interacts with the world. He was so late to the punch but he had a chance to live. To live one life beautiful. He learns to build connections and laugh and cry as a part of something. He discovers the world has so much more to suffering. 

*Don't really have anything else to say but I absolutely adore the book and film and just had to say something about it. This is not written well so advice and interpretation is welcome :3