Perks of being a wallflower FRQ
In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky employs the symbolism of a wallflower through a first person point of view and reflective perspective, in order to convey that Charlie being portrayed as a wallflower reveals that he struggles to navigate through typical social norms, ultimately illustrating that past experiences can halt the creation of new connections and change the meaning of experiences.
Stepehen Chbosky utilizes a first person point of view to further the symbolism of Charlie’s inability to initially fully engage a person. For example, the format of the letters that Charlie writes convey his own personal feelings and experiences first hand. He writes to an anonymous person despite ever receiving one back. Charlie’s motivation to write juxtaposes others kids’ strive to write around his age, revealing that he is different in his own way. Because the novel is set up within his personal first person perspective it is seen that he feels and expresses that he is different from others around him. Consequently, his evolving perspective as he navigates through high school is able to be seen first hand when he shares his experiences one on one. Therefore, these newfound experiences Charlie endures through high school change his views about himself and his past trauma. His perspective about his past within the present hinders him from being able to be fully present in the moment, but his friends’ acceptance of his difference guides him to heal and grow. Chbosky also uses a first person perspective to reveal Charlie’s connection with his peers. For example, the initial connections that Charlie makes with his high school peers seem foreign to him. This is revealed through his personal writing because he shares how much of an impact it has had on his life in general. From his writing, his friends seem to offer him even more outside experiences than high school has to offer. Because it is seen first hand of what Charlie is feeling, it reveals how less he is involved with the circle of his peers around him in general. Since high school and his newfound friendship juxtaposes what he had within his isolated past, it causes him to struggle. But through the ultimate guidance of his friends, he begins to learn and grow even though he still has flashbacks due to his trauma. Thus, the creation of new connections that Charlie creates not only reveals that he is ultimately different from his peers, but also reveals that he is faced with prior obstacles that offer him new experience to grow through his differences.
Not only does Chbosky employ a first person perspective, but also reflective personalities of characters around Charlie that reveal his differences. Chbosky utilizes the different perspective of other characters' lives to juxtapose Charlie’s. By sharing the stories of other characters, Chbosky portrays them in a way that is stereotypical to highschool friends. Especially when Charlie attends a high school party for the first time, he seems to jut out from everyone else. The whole environment seems foreign to him given his past and with only the few friends he can cling to. With everyone in a setting such as the party, they seem to recognize Charlie for his difference. They tell him that he is a “wallflower.” Chbosky uses this symbolic portrayal of him because other characters recognize his identity of being an observer. Consequently, Charlie finally feels like he is seen, but the fact that he knows he is seen differently still makes him feel like an outsider from everyone else. Therefore, even though Charlie begins to integrate, his past experiences and trauma still hinder his ability to fully engage , which ultimately alters his interpretation of the new experiences he faces. Chbosky further emphasizes Charlie's distinctiveness through his friends. Charlie’s past experiences create a significant struggle with forming new connections, which hinders him to maintain strong connections because of his disconnection. This is evident in his relationship with Patrick. Charlie uses his observant personality in order to observe struggles with his friends but due to his post isolation he isn’t always fully correct. Charlie and Patrick’s friendship becomes strained, due to what he said at a hangout with their friends about Sam. Charlie’s inability to recognize what he said was not right in this situation is directly linked to how he is struggling internally which hinders him to fully understand social cues. Despite this, Charlie hits Patrick’s emotionally abusive boyfriend because he finds the justice in it. With this act, he is able to become friends again with his group because his motive still thrives with good intentions. Since balancing his increasing struggle with past trauma and the rocky connections with his friends causes Charlie to become extremely unstable, his choice to take actions reveals his underlying polarization from complete isolation within himself. Thus, Charlie’s action helped him reconcile and strengthen the connection with his friends, in order to change his perspective and ultimately his future.
Stephen Chbosky uses the symbolism of a wallflower to portray Charlie’s journey. Before, Charlie had occupied the complete definition of a wallflower by being on the sidelines as an observer, and even though he faced great challenges through his trauma and inability to fully engage, he was able to accept that he is beautifully unique such as a wallflower. This ultimately reveals that it is possible for people with greatly impacting trauma, which has isolated them, to heal and grow through foreign experiences even though it may take profound character development.
Wonder FRQ
In the novel, Wonder, co-author Stephen Chbosy employs characters with differing perspectives with literal and figurative gifts , in order to convey that Auggie and Via both have gifts that are a burden, ultimately illustrating that depending on how people handle their gifts that are underlying hardships, it transforms their connections with themselves and others.
Stephen Chbosky utilizes Auggie’s deformity to portray how it affect his relationships. Initially, Auggie’s connection had been pretty rough with Jack because he had some hurtful things behind Auggie’s back on Halloween about his appearance, but Auggie was disguised and near him. Jack doesn’t really realize the weight of his words because he doesn’t fully understand how it feels to be physically different like Auggie personally. Consequently, Auggie feels extremely hurt by these comments and becomes even more insecure about himself than before. Therefore, Auggie’s physical gift which sets him to be unique from others, actually taints his relationships. But even though his relationship with Jack goes through a rough patch, their connection eventually heals through communication. One day, Jack finally has an epiphany. Jack finally realized why Auggie was distant- Auggie had been present while Jack had made those comments with Julian. This connection that Jack had with Julian was a main factor for this dispute because of Julian’s influence. Consequently, Julian had turned Jack into someone who would be oblivious with their words, but Jack felt extremely guilty. Julian was quick to find Auggie’s deformity unsettling, but Jack had come to the realization that he sees through Auggie’s physicality and truly appreciated Auggie’s presence as a gift. Therefore, through acceptance of physical differences through strong relationships, people can view their differences to be more than a burden.
Auggie also holds a difference that isn’t physical. Stephen Chbosky also utilizes the connection Auggie has with his sister Via to portray a figurative burden. Auggie’s sister Via had always not appreciated his presence- and not just his physicality. She felt embarrassed that she was even his sister. Because Via had never really been appreciative of Auggie, she had already labeled him as a burden in her eyes. Consequently, Auggie has always been used to people opposing his physicality, but just Via’s hatred of his presence tainted their connection as siblings. This made Auggie feel unsure of his whole existence and began to crave absence. Therefore, this reveals that even figurative connection places a burden on a person who is in relation to someone who is apparently different. Chbosky allows the relationship between Via and Auggie to transform beyond the hindrance of figurative burden through an event. Via was the understudy of the main roles in a play to Miranda- her past friend she has had troubles with. And Via did not want Auggie to be there when she performed. But Auggie had come along and Miranda decided to opt out at the last second. Because Miranda had made this choice, it helped Via become more accepting. Since Via was able to fix her own personal problems, she then has the capacity to appreciate the presence of her brother. Therefore, when one is able to find themselves, they can fix their external relationships built upon superficial burdens.
Chboksy creates characters with differing perspectives in order to convey that Auggie has both literal and figurative differences that set him out to be beautifully unique, but also believes he is a burden. The relationships that Auggie endures allows him to face hardships that had reinforced his belief of being a roadblock. But the growth that these relationships offer for Auggie help him internalize his difference in a more positive way. In conclusion, people may have literal or figurative differences, but through communication and understanding, people’s perspective of their difference can change for the better.