The theme of life’s unfairness is explored in both The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Outsiders. These books focus on coming-of-age stories that highlight the power of individuals to create positive change in their own lives and the lives of others through active participation and good decision-making. Ponyboy from The Outsiders and Charlie from Perks share similar experiences of adversity, which they must overcome by facing various challenges. Despite their academic talents, they struggle socially and are marginalized by society. They also come from dysfunctional families and have experienced loss. However, these experiences as social outcasts ultimately contribute to their growth into valuable members of society.
In high school, Charlie, a ninth grade student, finds himself friendless after his only friend tragically commits suicide. Dealing with the loss and feeling disconnected from those around him, Charlie suppresses memories of his Aunt Helen who used to make him feel special but whom he believes indirectly caused her own death. This is due to a car accident where Aunt Helen went out to buy an extra birthday present for Charlie because he meant so much to her. However, these suppressed memories involve Charlie being sexually abused by her, leaving a profound emotional impact and causing social difficulties. Nevertheless, high school offers Charlie an opportunity for a fresh start. Initially isolating himself and becoming a target for bullies, Charlie gradually opens up with the support of his new friends Sam and Patrick and starts fitting in better with his peers.
Charlie experiences a shift in his engagement with life after joining a group and participating in activities. However, being excluded from the group causes him to revert back to his withdrawn nature. This is because he lacks comprehension of the repercussions of his actions, such as kissing Sam while she is dating Mary Elizabeth – a dare to kiss the most attractive girl. Consequently, tension arises between Sam, Mary Elizabeth, and himself. Charlie eventually redeems himself by assisting his friend Patrick when he is attacked by football players. As a result, he regains acceptance into his newfound friends’ inner circle.
Unfortunately, Charlie’s social contentment does not last long as Sam departs for college, plunging him once again into emotional turmoil. Eventually, this leads to his hospitalization and serves as the pinnacle of his social isolation.
Charlie acknowledges that our identities are shaped by myriad factors, many of which may remain unknown to us. However, he firmly believes that while we cannot choose our origins, we can still determine the paths we take. We possess the capacity to take action and find solace in our choices. Although Charlie struggles with his mental and emotional struggles, he manages to overcome his outsider status by striving to become the best version of himself.
Similarly, Ponyboy’s social outcast status stems from his inability to fit into any particular social group, despite being affiliated with his family’s gang. Being an orphan raised by his older brother Darry, Ponyboy harbors resentment towards his sibling and yearns for more discipline in his life. Additionally, socioeconomic factors contribute to his outsider status.
The people he hangs out with are misfits who smoke, drink, steal, and are uneducated delinquents. Many of his friends, including his brother Sodapop, have dropped out of school. He stands out from them because he is academically smart but lacks common sense and street smarts, which most of his friends possess. He doesn’t pay attention to time and doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions, like talking to Cherry Valiance, a popular girl. This leads to trouble, like when Cherry’s boyfriend Bob wants to fight him. Even at school, his actions define him; for example, in a biology class incident where he used his switchblade to cut a worm instead of using a razor. He didn’t realize the implications until a girl sitting next to him reacted by calling him a hood.
Despite not identifying with them himself, Ponyboy’s friends and home life define him. His interaction with Cherry adds tension between the Socials and Greasers, ultimately leading to Cherry’s boyfriend’s death and a huge brawl. Ponyboy is a prime example of someone who could thrive with a different group in a different environment, but unfair life events hinder him. He contemplates the injustice of life but is grateful for his caring family and the friends who have become like family to him. Though he dislikes being a social outcast, his outlook remains optimistic. Both Charlie and Ponyboy are highly intelligent, particularly in literature, a recurring theme in both books. Despite possessing the common sense and social skills required for inclusion in most groups, both characters possess book smarts.
Both stories feature protagonists who are not traditional nerds or geeks, but are intelligent and well-read. Their English teachers, Bill and ML Syme, play a significant role in their narratives. Bill, in “Perks,” encourages Charlie to become more literate, while Mr. Syme in “The Outsiders” assigns Ponyboy a literary theme that shapes his storytelling. Literature is highly valued in both stories and connects to different aspects of the boys’ lives. Ponyboy identifies with Pip from “Great Expectations” as they both feel misunderstood and looked down upon.
The speaker reflects on the magnificence portrayed in Gone with the Wind and uses it as a means to teach Johnny about the ideas and themes presented in the book. Eventually, Ponyboy and Johnny come to the realization that Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” represents the fleeting nature of youth and the opportunities it brings. They conclude that being young is like being gold, vibrant and full of potential. However, as one becomes accustomed to life, that golden period fades away. Ponyboy compares this to admiring sunsets, which are gold in their beauty. He advises Johnny to hold onto that youthful mindset, as it is a positive way to approach life. It is then emphasized that one should seize every opportunity and actively participate in their own life because once aging sets in, that golden phase cannot be maintained forever. Bill serves as Charlie’s role model, guiding him to become the best version of himself. He achieves this by assigning books for Charlie to read, ensuring his active engagement with life.
Bill is the person who inspires Charlie to actively engage in life, despite Sam’s encouragement for him to prioritize his own life over others’ and Patrick’s support for participating in various activities. It is Bill who recognizes and appreciates Charlie’s uniqueness, an important connection that reminds him of his Aunt Helen who exploited his vulnerability. Unlike her, Bill acknowledges Charlie’s talents and tells him, “Charlie, you’re one of the most gifted people I’ve ever known.” Bill uses books like Peter Pan, A Separate Peace, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Catcher and the Rye to help Charlie grow personally and discover his true identity while becoming an active participant in his own life.
Both Charlie and Ponyboy are outcasts from dysfunctional families. Despite being sexually abused by his Aunt Helen and suffering psychological issues as a result, Charlie feels a deep connection to her and holds himself responsible for her death. This special bond allows him to relate to his mother, but the rest of his family lacks this connection. His parents’ actions create tension among him and his siblings, despite his desire to show appreciation for his mother through buying her a birthday gift. While they may not fully comprehend his psychological struggles, Charlie’s parents have faith in his intelligence and potential for success. However, when he experiences a setback, this belief becomes tormenting for his father.
Charlie’s siblings are constantly fighting and his sister is only kind to him when she is vulnerable. Charlie’s brother is a distant part of his life, as their large age gap and living proximity makes their relationship only something from the past. Charlie’s social inadequacies only infuriate his sister until she is in need of help. However, Charlie proves to be supportive when his sister is vulnerable, but overall he is just a nuisance.
Ponyboy’s life at home is similarly disparaging. However, due to his low socioeconomic standing, he is a social outcast because of physical barriers instead of emotional disabilities. The death of his parents resulted in his being raised by his oldest brother Darry. Ponyboy views resentment by his brother Darry as he feels Darry would have a better life if he didn’t need to be the provider. “Darry didn’t deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty.
He was a popular guy in school, serving as captain of the football team and being voted Boy of the Year. However, despite winning an athletic scholarship, we simply couldn’t afford for him to go to college. Moreover, his busy schedule with multiple jobs left him no time to even consider it. On the other hand, Ponyboy’s brother Sodapop dropped out of school, which could potentially strain their relationship. Instead, it strengthens their bond as they keep his dropout a secret and he helps support the family. The gang they belong to acts as a surrogate extended family, evoking mixed emotions for Ponyboy as both an insider and outsider. Throughout the novels, Ponyboy and Charlie must face the loss of friends and family in order to grow and make the most out of life. In “Perks,” Charlie experiences the death of his only friend Michael Dobson, leading him to seek counseling to cope with this and his other emotional issues. Eventually, he comes to reflect on death and friendship by asserting that “things change.”
The protagonist in the book reflects on the deaths of his Aunt Helen and friends, causing him to feel guilty for his aunt’s car accident. He believes that she was shopping for his birthday gift at the time and struggles to feel special without her. However, his friendships with Sam, Patrick, and Bill help him gain self-confidence and become more extroverted. These individuals empower him and contribute to his personal growth. Charlie expresses that there is a moment when one realizes they are not a sad story but alive and infinite. Similarly, Ponyboy in another book constantly wrestles with death, finding it unjust. Nonetheless, he eventually accepts the reality of death surrounding him.
Firstly, the protagonist experiences the loss of his parents, resulting in him being placed under the unjust supervision of his older brother. This creates a difficult situation for both him and his brother, Darry. Subsequently, he becomes involved in an unintended homicide incident where he defends himself after being attacked by a gang. Despite not being the actual perpetrator, he chooses to take responsibility out of his desire for a fairer world. Later, he and his best friend Johnny are hailed as heroes for rescuing children from a burning church. However, Ponyboy still has to grapple with the death of Johnny, who succumbs to complications from the burns. Finally, Ponyboy witnesses the tragic demise of Dally, who had supported him mentally and aided him following the accidental death, at the hands of the police.
Despite the challenges they face, both Ponyboy from “The Outsiders” and Charlie from “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” are perceptive teenagers. They come from dysfunctional families and struggle to navigate social situations, feeling like outcasts. However, they both learn to appreciate life and understand the importance of sharing their perspectives to combat judgement. Ponyboy realizes this through Johnny’s posthumous words, acknowledging that being a good person means telling their side of the story. Despite the unfairness they experience, both protagonists overcome their emotional and mental obstacles resulting from the loss of loved ones. They grow into resilient individuals who actively participate in life.
