What Did Aunt Helen Do To Charlie In The Perks Of Being A Wallflower?

Charlie’s favorite aunt, Helen, did something to him that scared him for life. The childhood trauma he carried around affected him and the people associated with him.  

Helen was Charlie’s aunt, who adored Charlie a lot. Then, what trauma did she then inflict on Charlie?

The abridged version of the story is that Helen sexually abused Charlie. He was seven years old when the incident took place. Later in the story, Helen dies in a car accident while she is out to get Charlie his birthday gift. 

How Deeply Did His Aunt’s Actions Scar, Charlie? 

Before moving ahead, let’s first understand what wallflower means. Charlie uses the metaphor of a wallflower to explain how secluded he is from society. Simply put, when we call someone a wallflower, it means an awkward, shy, and excluded person at social gatherings. 

Charlie felt the same way! 

If we dig deep, Charlie’s awkward nature results from many unpleasant things. Starting with the molestation that he suffered at home. Later, his best friend, the only one Charlie confided in, passed away. 

Many families rise to the occasion when something like this occurs, but Charlie’s family doesn’t. Did you know he wasn’t close with his family either? 

Despite living in the same house, his mother and father were quite distant. He couldn’t connect with his brother much as he was too busy with his life, and lastly, his sister was battling her demons. All this affected Charlie’s life to the extent that he made some questionable decisions. 

For example, Charlie’s ignorant behavior drifted Mary, his girlfriend, away. Even Charlie realized he felt deeply for Sam but let Mary into his life instead. The tension between the three was something that could have been avoided. Moreover, the chaos in his personal life pushed Charlie towards drugs and alcoholism. 

Unknowingly, Helen played a pivotal role in Charlie’s life. How can someone abuse a child as young as Charlie? She inflicted pain on a seven-year-old boy. However, he learned to subdue the pain with time and carry on with a smile. 

Charlie Found Solace in Sam and Patrick

Was Charlie’s newfound friendship with Patrick and Sam truly his solace? Or was it some messed up compensation for his deceased friend? Charlie was living in a void after his friend passed away, which was later filled by Patrick and Sam. 

From the beginning, it was pretty clear that Patrick was bisexual. Coming out at sixteen is not everyone’s game. Patrick was struggling with the same thing. He picked the path of drugs and alcohol, and so did Charlie. 

Sam, however, is an interesting character. She was messed up too. At age sixteen, who isn’t? She was discovering her feelings for Charlie but couldn’t confess. She knew Charlie was into her, but Charlie’s relationship with Mary complicated many things. 

The chaos in Charlie’s life made him lie, abuse substances, and do everything he should have done in the first place. But can we blame Charlie? 

Shouldn’t Charlie’s family have paid attention? Lastly, Helen, why did she molest Charlie? She could have picked a better path for herself and Charlie. 

Let us know your take on Charlie’s life in the comments section below. 

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