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The perks of being a wallflower

 Blog 5: Tirza Scheffer


The Perks of Being a Wallflower looks at how being bullied can affect a person for many years, and how it can impact their life as an adult. Charlie is a shy teenager who keeps his past hidden. Charlie is not the typical "bullying victim" because he has had years of family trauma, which has caused him to feel anxious and depressed. These experiences shape how he sees the world and himself, showing that bullying isn't just something that happens at school but can come from home and last long after high school.

In the movie, Charlie starts to make new friends, but problems from his past soon find him. The trauma he suffered from his family and a past abusive relationship is triggered, leading to flashbacks that disrupt his present. This shows how bullying can leave lasting scars that you can't see, but which can still badly affect someone's mental health. Charlie is still in pain, even though he's not at school anymore. In fact, it's clear that unresolved trauma can follow someone throughout their life, influencing their relationships and behavior.

The film also shows how bullying can lead to more violence. The way Charlie's family interacts with each other is a big part of the problem. The emotional harm he faces at home makes it hard for him to escape the cycle of abuse. This makes bullying a bigger issue. It shows that it is often connected to bigger problems in a person's environment. It's not just about what happens at school; it's about the wider context of a person's life that shapes their experience.

I think the film does a great job of showing how mental health and bullying are connected. It's easy to think of bullying as something that happens in a specific time and place, but this movie shows that the emotional scars can last much longer. It's not just something that happens at high school, but something that people may carry with them throughout life.

In the end, The Perks of Being a Wallflower teaches us that bullying doesn't end once school is over. The emotional damage can last much longer, and it's not as easy to "move on" from this. It's important to deal with past traumas, ask for help, and learn how to manage the long-term effects.

Reference:

Wikipedia contributors. (2025, 7 april). The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower

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Comments

  1. Salma Garrijou BouzyaneMay 18, 2025 at 8:34 AM

    I really liked how you explained that bullying and trauma are not just things that happen in school as they can be rooted in deeper family dynamics and last far into adulthood. I completely agree, and your analysis of Charlie’s story brings attention to how emotional pain can remain hidden for years.

    Also, your post made me think about how we sometimes overlook the internalisation of bullying. Charlie’s character doesn’t show anger or aggression; instead, he turns his pain inward, which connects to the concept of internalising symptoms we saw in class like anxiety, depression, or withdrawal. I think the film shows really well that trauma doesn’t always lead to outward behavioural issues. Sometimes, it makes people feel broken or disconnected on the inside, and that’s just as serious. Something else that came to mind is how teachers and school staff are almost invisible in the movie. That silence says a lot. It made me reflect on the responsibility of adults in detecting emotional suffering, not just physical bullying. We talk a lot about peer relationships, but emotional neglect from adults or institutions can also contribute to the long-term damage.

    Moreover, your post reminded me of a video I recently watched, where a woman apologised to her former victim 15 years after bullying her in school. The emotional reaction from both sides was incredibly strong, and it clearly showed how unresolved harm can stay with someone for a lifetime, which closely mirrors Charlie’s experience. In both cases, what helps the healing process is having someone who listens, acknowledges the pain, and creates space for emotional expression.

    Thank you for your thoughtful post. I think it really opens up the conversation about how complex bullying is, and how important it is to look beyond surface behaviours and consider the emotional histories people carry with them.

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