Charlie

Charlie is intelligent

Charlie is the main character of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He is a 15-year-old boy living with his parents and his older sister. He also has an older brother at Penn State University. The novel charts Charlie’s first year of high school. 

Charlie is extremely intelligent. This is noticed by his teacher, Bill, who gives him books to read and asks him to write extra essays. At the end of the school year, Bill tells Charlie: “ ‘You’re one of the most gifted people I’ve ever known. And I don’t mean in terms of my other students. I mean in terms of anyone I’ve ever met.’ ” (p. 194)

Charlie is a “wallflower”

As the novel’s title suggests, Charlie is a “wallflower” – someone with an introverted personality who stands to the side at social gatherings, watches, and avoids being the center of attention. Patrick describes Charlie as a “wallflower” at the first party he takes Charlie to. He explains: “ ‘You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.’ ” (p. 41)

At first, Charlie takes this to extremes, by allowing thin...