The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by

Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Symbols

Books

Throughout the novel, books—especially exchanging books as gifts—symbolize the unifying power of stories. Books become important when Bill gives Charlie extra books to read outside of class. Though Charlie doesn’t realize it at first, this…

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Music

Like books, the characters in The Perks of Being a Wallflower use music to foster connections between friends. In particular, music symbolizes shared experiences and feelings, good or bad, that cannot be expressed…

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The Tunnel

The tunnel into the city, though which Charlie, Patrick, and Sam often drive while listening to music, is a special place for them. Because it is a passage, the tunnel directly represents adolescence—the…

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