The Surprising Spiritual Lessons of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Summary

The video script delves into the coming-of-age film 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' exploring themes of self-discovery, individuality, and the power of human connection. Set in 1991, it resonates with audiences through its portrayal of universal struggles and the potential for growth. The narrative unfolds through Charlie's letters, revealing his inner world and the characters' layered personalities. Key moments like the 'infinity tunnel' symbolize freedom and self-expression, while the film's climax encourages viewers to confront their past and embrace their infinite potential.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The story of 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' explores the layers of ego and soul, emphasizing self-discovery and the expression of individuality.
• 🎬 The film, directed by Stephen Chbosky, is a coming-of-age narrative that resonates with a wide audience, transcending its 1991 setting.
• 🚸 The narrative is unique, being told through letters written by the protagonist, Charlie, offering an intimate view into his thoughts and feelings.
• 🌀 The 'infinity tunnel' is a recurring symbol representing a place of pure experience and the infinite nature of the human spirit.
• 📚 Books and writing play a significant role in Charlie's life, guiding him and providing a medium for self-expression and growth.
• 🧘‍♂️ The film subtly examines the line between danger and conscious expansion, particularly through Charlie's experiences with drugs.
• 🤝 The story highlights the importance of friendship and the support it provides in overcoming past traumas and growing as individuals.
• 🎭 The characters are relatable and multidimensional, each with their own struggles and journeys, making the story accessible to a broad demographic.
• 🌈 The transformation of characters like Patrick, who reclaims the derogatory term 'nothing', illustrates the power of self-acceptance and resilience.
• 💔 The film addresses the impact of childhood abuse and the journey towards healing, showing that everyone carries their own pain.
• 🌱 The use of psychedelics by Charlie is portrayed as a catalyst for facing and integrating his inner darkness, leading to personal growth and rebirth.

Q & A

What is the central theme of 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'?

The central theme of 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' is the exploration of self-discovery and the expression of one's soul through the connections made with others, while navigating the challenges of adolescence and the journey towards individuality and authenticity.

How does the 'infinity tunnel' symbolize in the story?

The 'infinity tunnel' symbolizes a place of pure experience and the infinite within. It represents a moment of surrender to an expansive, seemingly never-ending experience, which is a metaphor for the limitless potential of the human spirit.

What is the significance of Charlie's letters in the narrative?

Charlie's letters serve as a narrative device that provides an intimate look into his thoughts and feelings, allowing the audience to connect with his internal struggles and growth throughout the story.

How does the movie portray the characters to make them relatable?

The movie portrays the characters as real people with their own unique struggles and experiences, making it easy for the audience to connect with them on a personal level, as opposed to the often unrealistic portrayals in other Hollywood high school films.

What is the underlying message about the nature of hurt people in the film?

The film conveys the message that 'hurt people hurt people,' suggesting that those who have been wounded often unintentionally inflict pain on others, reflecting the complex nature of human relationships and the impact of past traumas.

How does Charlie's journaling contribute to his personal growth?

Charlie's journaling allows him to express his thoughts and emotions, which contributes to his self-awareness and personal growth. It also helps him to articulate his intentions and desires, which in turn shapes his reality and leads him towards positive change.

What role does Mr. Rudd play in Charlie's life?

Mr. Rudd serves as a mentor to Charlie, providing him with wisdom, encouragement, and guidance. He supports Charlie's intellectual and creative growth, helping him to develop as a writer and navigate the challenges of adolescence.

What does Patrick's transformation throughout the story signify?

Patrick's transformation signifies the power of self-acceptance and the ability to turn negative labels into positive self-expression. His journey represents the struggle for identity and the resilience to redefine oneself on one's own terms.

How does Sam's character represent the loss of innocence and the potential for growth?

Sam's character embodies the loss of innocence through her past experiences, but also demonstrates the potential for growth and healing. She moves beyond her past and into a higher reality, showing that it is possible to overcome trauma and become a stronger, more authentic version of oneself.

What is the significance of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' in the film?

The 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' represents a space where freedom of expression and the breaking of societal norms are celebrated. It is a place where the characters can be themselves without judgment, reflecting the film's theme of individuality and acceptance.

How does Charlie's LSD experience reflect his internal struggles?

Charlie's LSD experience is a metaphor for his internal struggles and the process of self-discovery. The psychedelic trip forces him to confront the darkness within his psyche, representing a journey into the depths of his subconscious mind and the uncovering of repressed traumas.

What does the concept of 'accepting the love we think we deserve' imply in the context of the story?

The concept implies that people often settle for relationships or forms of love that align with their self-perception, rather than what they truly need or deserve. It challenges the characters, and by extension the audience, to reconsider their self-worth and seek more fulfilling, authentic connections.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Self-Discovery and Connection in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

The first paragraph introduces 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' as a story that explores the layers between a person's ego and soul, focusing on self-discovery and expression. Set in 1991, the narrative resonates with various demographics due to its universal themes of uniqueness and individuality. The story is written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, who adapts his own novel into a screenplay. The film uses the infinity tunnel as a metaphor for pure experience and the infinite within. Charlie, the protagonist, navigates his journey through letters to an unknown recipient, revealing his inner thoughts and experiences. The narrative delves into the realistic portrayal of high school life, the challenges of being an outcast, and the exploration of the characters' past traumas and their paths to overcoming them.

05:01

🌈 Embracing Individuality and Overcoming Labels in the Story

The second paragraph delves into the characters of Patrick and Sam, who represent the voices of the misrepresented and outcasts in society. Patrick's struggle with being mislabeled and his eventual embrace of the term 'nothing' symbolizes his transformation and self-acceptance. Sam, whose name signifies divine attention, plays a crucial role in supporting Charlie's self-discovery. The paragraph also discusses the importance of showing up for others in our lives and the impact of past traumas on the characters' present behaviors. The narrative includes a scene where the characters experience the freedom and expression at the Rocky Horror Picture Show, highlighting the film's exploration of freedom and personal transformation.

10:01

🌱 Healing from Trauma and the Journey to Authentic Love

The third paragraph addresses the theme of trauma and its impact on the characters' lives, particularly focusing on Charlie's struggle with the guilt and pain associated with his Aunt Helen's death. It discusses the concept of 'dark night of the soul,' a period of intense introspection and healing. The paragraph also touches on the characters' relationships and their quest for authentic love, as exemplified by Sam's desire to be loved for who she truly is. The narrative concludes with a message of self-worth and the importance of recognizing the infinite potential within each individual, encapsulated by the recurring image of the infinity tunnel.

Keywords

💡Self-discovery

Self-discovery refers to the process of understanding oneself, one's identity, and place in the world. In the context of the video, self-discovery is a central theme as it follows the protagonist's journey to understand his own identity and emotions. The video emphasizes the importance of exploring one's inner self, as seen through Charlie's introspective letters and his experiences that lead to personal growth and understanding.

💡Individuality

Individuality is the quality of being distinct or separate from others, often in terms of personality, interests, or talents. The video script highlights the importance of embracing one's individuality and uniqueness. It contrasts the protagonist's experience with the pressures of conformity, suggesting that true self-expression and fulfillment come from acknowledging and celebrating one's individual traits.

💡Ego

Ego, in psychological terms, refers to a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance. The video discusses the layers between a person's ego and their soul, suggesting that the ego can sometimes hinder self-discovery and authentic connection with others. It is depicted as a barrier that must be navigated to reach a deeper understanding of one's true self.

💡Soul

Soul, in a philosophical or spiritual context, often refers to the immaterial essence of a person, distinct from the physical body. The video script uses the concept of the soul to explore deeper aspects of human consciousness and the quest for meaning. It suggests that the soul's expression is integral to one's true nature and that connecting with it can lead to profound personal growth.

💡Outcast

An outcast is a person who is treated as an outsider or excluded from a group. The video script uses the theme of being an outcast to explore the experiences of those who feel different or marginalized. It emphasizes the potential for outcasts to find their own paths and the value in embracing one's uniqueness, as seen in the protagonist's journey and his relationships with other characters.

💡Infinity Tunnel

The 'infinity tunnel' is a metaphorical concept used in the video to represent a place of pure experience and connection with the infinite. It symbolizes a state of being where one feels a part of something larger than oneself, often associated with feelings of freedom and expansiveness. The tunnel is a recurring motif that encapsulates the characters' experiences of transcendence and connection.

💡Journaling

Journaling is the act of regularly writing down one's thoughts, experiences, and reflections. In the video, Charlie's journaling is a key narrative device that provides insight into his inner world. It illustrates how writing can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and personal growth, allowing him to process his experiences and emotions.

💡Trauma

Trauma refers to deep emotional or psychological wounds caused by distressing events or experiences. The video script delves into the impact of trauma on the characters' lives, showing how past experiences of abuse and hardship shape their present. It also explores the process of healing and overcoming these experiences, emphasizing the importance of facing and acknowledging past traumas.

💡Psychedelics

Psychedelics are a class of hallucinogenic drugs that can induce altered states of consciousness. In the video, Charlie's experiences with LSD are depicted as a catalyst for introspection and spiritual exploration. The script uses these experiences to discuss the potential for psychedelics to facilitate self-discovery and confront repressed emotions or traumas.

💡Rocky Horror Picture Show

The 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' is a cult classic film known for its campy humor and participatory audience experience. In the video, the characters' involvement with the film's screenings symbolizes their embrace of non-conformity and their search for a community where they can express themselves freely. It represents a space of freedom and acceptance, contrasting with societal norms.

💡Dark Night of the Soul

A 'dark night of the soul' is a term from mysticism that describes a period of intense spiritual crisis and emotional turmoil. In the video, this concept is used to describe Charlie's struggle with his past and his journey towards healing. It illustrates the process of facing one's inner darkness as a necessary step towards growth and self-understanding.

Highlights

The story explores the layers between ego and soul.

Self-discovery and expression are key themes.

The narrative is centered around being an outcast.

The story emphasizes uniqueness and individuality.

The film is set in 1991 but resonates with a wide audience.

The story is written and directed by Stephen Chbosky.

The film opens and closes with the infinity tunnel symbolizing pure experience.

Charlie's line 'We are infinite' becomes the movie's tagline.

The narrative is told through letters to the audience, providing an intimate look into Charlie's mind.

Each character feels real, making it easy for viewers to connect.

The film accurately portrays high school experiences.

The story explores the impact of childhood abuse on characters.

Hurt people hurting others is a significant lesson.

Charlie is a young writer who uses journaling to navigate his life.

Mr. Rudd becomes Charlie's mentor, guiding him as a writer.

Patrick represents the voice of the misrepresented.

Sam helps Charlie open his heart and supports his self-discovery.

The tunnel scene symbolizes freedom and trust.

The film explores the idea that we accept the love we think we deserve.

Charlie's guilt over Aunt Helen's death affects his relationships.

Charlie's dark night of the soul represents facing past trauma.

The film concludes with the message that we are all infinite.

Transcripts

the perks of being a wallflower is a story about the infinite layers between

a person's ego and a person's soul and in that the self-discovery and

expression of the soul through the connection we have with each other

much of this coming-of-age story is centered around being an outcast in a

world of sameness telling us of uniqueness individuality and that each

of us have the potential to live our best lives if we can just get out of our

own way while the story is based in 1991 it relates very well with most

demographics in the last 40 years maybe - all the mixtapes as much of the

message is universal to our human consciousness today the story was both

written and directed by Stephen Chbosky for both the novel and the screenplay

and while generally here we'll be focusing on the movie for those

interested the book adds many dimensions to the story that we don't see in the

film with that here's your spoiler alert and here we go

the film opens and closes with the infinity tunnel the play switch to the

main characters seems to be a place of pure experience an experience of the

infinite within we see Sam and later Charlie experience this by standing up

in the back of a truck holding their arms out enjoy a surrender to the

expansive and seemingly never-ending tunnel this is where we find Charlie's

legendary line that became the tagline of the movie we are infinite

what's especially amazing and curious about this is that it subtly explores

the lines between danger and conscious expansion in the surrender of the will

of the soul it opens for this expansive iconic experience that few are familiar

with which deepens their connection to themselves feelings of freedom and each

other now both in the book and a core part of the movie is that the narrative

is told through Charlie writing these letters to us essentially providing a

more intimate look at what's going on inside Charlie's mind and heart

throughout the story we peel back the layers of his nature and go deeper into

resonance with his soul but what's more so we can see the various layers of his

personality both ego and soul that are steering the ship of his life and truly

one remarkable aspect of this story in particular is that every character feels

like real people which makes it easy for the

to connect well with anyone as opposed to some of those other Hollywood high

schools where everyone is 30 or constantly breaking into song but

perhaps one of the challenges of going back to high school through this movie

is that in a lot of ways it's really accurate which brings up all kind of

memories for myself personally there's a lot of this story that just feels like

exactly what happened in high school and I mean take this girl for instance a

nice Trapper Keeper Sagat did you already do the term paper

on

look jagoff who hurt you but yet if the story gives us any indication it's that

each of us with our multitude of layers have this incredible Bank of life

experience and all of us have been hurt in some ways though rarely we show it

openly throughout the film we slowly buried deeper into the many layers of

these characters and explore the abuse that was experienced in childhood and

how they were able to overcome it and grow as people so even as we watch for

those with the heart to explore it even the people who are not so nice like the

girl in Charlie's class the teacher who calls a student nothing or Brad and his

friends are all people who are suffering in their own ways but just haven't yet

faced it within themselves perhaps one of the most significant lessons of this

movie here is that hurt people hurt people

so getting to know Charlie we learned that he is a young budding writer making

these journals and describing his life experiences if we go into our ancient

past we find many legendary sages telling us that it is through our words

that we create and steer our lives and reality and what's more so that writing

our words gives them lasting power which is why things like journaling and even

vision boards can be so powerful both in creating new things in life and

developing wisdom and meaningful self-reflection charlie actively

demonstrates this throughout the story by the words that he uses when he's

journaling early on he writes about how his old friends and people he used to

know don't want to connect with him and he says well I'm me so Who am I kidding

putting himself down and reinforcing the belief in himself that he's not worth

very much yet he also writes that he wants to make new friends because he

wants to turn things around and this very intention puts him on the path to

actually making some now the first friend that Charlie makes

is really his teacher Paul Rudd however Charlie's own shame prevents him

from acknowledging this at the start but throughout the story Mr Rudd essentially

becomes Charlie's guiding mentor providing him with wisdom in the form of

books and supporting him in being an intelligent writer we are also

introduced to Patrick Patrick really represents the outspoken voice of those

who are misrepresented in the world and one who will stand up for those who are

outcasts from society when we first meet Patrick he is drawing a beard on himself

pretending to be the shop class teacher and the teacher comes in and calls him

patty cakes so Patrick says look my name is Patrick

so either call me Patrick or call me nothing and the teacher calls him

nothing in the book this plays out a little bit differently but we can gleam

a lesson here nonetheless because of this exchange basically all of the kids

in school refer to Patrick as nothing throughout the entire story however by

the end we see the transmutation of this energy as he puts nothing hates you on

the top of his hat owning and even changing the energy and demonstrating

some wisdom and compassion all the same nothing hates you there's only love get

it well this probably went over most people's heads which might be a pun

because it was on the top of his hat speaking to friendships the final of the

main trio in the story is Sam now the name Sam itself actually translates from

Hebrew meaning God has heard or listened name of God and she plays a significant

role not just in her own story but helping Charlie to open his heart and

supporting him throughout his own self-discovery there's a lesson here too

for all of us in the question of who are we showing up for in our lives the

beautiful thing about Sam is that she really shows up for nearly everyone

there is a subtle allusion to this in that the first time we see her she has

bright stadium lights behind her depicting angelic radiance yet at the

same time Sam herself represents the loss of

innocence for she used to have a reputation of getting drunk with all the

boys and I'm sure you can imagine where that trade ends we can see this in many

areas throughout the movie such as the red and black

that she often wears which falls in stark contrast to the pink wall and

twinkly lights of her bedroom but deeper still with her story of being taken

advantage of by her dad's boss at the age of 11 which twisted her into

becoming the girl with the reputation yet the quality of her soul allowed her

to grow as a person she is not defined by these aspects of herself anymore

moving beyond her past into a higher reality and progressively does so even

to the end getting into Penn State and sharing that things do get better the

tunnel scene which we explored earlier is a scene of soaring flying trust and

freedom all of the things that help Charlie in embodying the same thing by

the end to having made some friends Charlie is initiated into the group by

attending his first party where he experiences his first plant medicine

experience eating a cannabis brownie and opening up to his new friends in a

quirky way where they essentially adopt him into the group welcome to the island

of misfit toys Sam says after Patrick gives Charlie a toast one of the primary

activities of this group is going to and participating in the Rocky Horror

Picture Show now we spoke before about how the tunnel

represents freedom and this is another special place where freedom of

expression reigns supreme and inhibitions go out the window

honestly these scenes just deserve a massive shout out both to Stephen

Chbosky for weeding this into the narrative in a really meaningful way and

also the actors for having such courage to get on stage in front of all these

cameras and an audience of a thousand people and perform the Rocky Horror

Picture Show mad respect now speaking of freedom and big changes

a little while later Charlie also experiences LSD for the first and

probably the last time cinematically it's a really funny segue

between taking the Eucharist at church and doing a tab which shows a direct

correlation to entering the depths of spirituality and all of the ways we can

do this but nobody ever taught Charlie that the best way to practice with

psychedelics is in nature or with meditation so he doesn't have the best

time at one point he had some shoveling snow in a circle on the driveway for a

while and wait a second this house has six garage doors what

this seems a little excessive but okay during the scene Charlie says I saw this

tree but it was a dragon it was a tree

and I'm certain that this was probably unintentional but when you learn about

in Drasil the Norse edition of The Tree of Life system we find that there is

this dragon called nidhogg in historical Viking society nidhogg was a great and

terrible dragon whose actions intended to pull the cosmos into chaos and who

also chewed the bodies of those who are guilty of terrible crimes this is very

curious to me because it seems to relate to the undercurrent of darkness that

runs throughout the story as both Sam Charlie and even aunt Helen were abused

when they were younger again this connection is probably not

intentional but Charlie seeing the tree become a dragon could be indicative of

uncovering the darkness at the bottom of his own inner psyche see this part of

the story really does begin the inward spiral that leads him into uncovering

the truth of his past and the full transformation is represented by the LSD

trip where at the end he creates a snow angel representing his purification and

rebirth speaking to this undercurrent of trauma and how it shows up for us often

in life is this idea that we accept the love we think we deserve a key point

made throughout as we see so many characters accepting love that deep down

they know is only holding them back from becoming more authentic versions of

themselves whether it's Candis and ponytail Derrick Patrick and his secret

lover Brad and Craig and Mary Elizabeth and Charlie

the film really explores the idea that we often do things that we don't want to

for the wrong reasons Charlie dates Mary Elizabeth and hates

it he has absolutely nothing good to say about it at all and yet he stays in it

why because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings

even though it's not a healthy relationship Charlie can't see past his

own ego or what he's creating by staying in the relationship

what's more so even after the relationship ends Charlie is still

trying to make up with her because he feels bad he feels guilty and in this we

gain a subtle reflection for ourselves and how we weave our own traps of

suffering we can see this expressed during one scene where he has this black

dot on his third eye the symbol of Ash Wednesday from his church and Mary

Elizabeth wipes it off for much of the film she does seem to carry this

representation of the spiritual ego by her tendency to boast about spiritual

concepts but doesn't really behave much like the Buddhists she claims to be the

story asks us to reflect on our own relationships and our own lives in the

same way what are we doing and why are we doing it are our actions in the

highest alignment with our souls however we must also acknowledge that as we go

deeper we see that Charlie's guilt of feeling responsible for his Aunt Helens

death also stems into not being able to tell Mary Elizabeth the truth about how

he feels from this we may discover within ourselves that all of our actions

and feelings are interwoven together far deeper than we know to the surprise of

many people who first watch it or read the book towards the end

Charlie goes through what resembles a dark night of the soul a common thing

during the awakening process where we must face some aspect of our past we

must go through a trauma and the pain in order to emerge on the other side of it

and find healing throughout the film Charlie's pain Wells up within him in a

number of ways such as the fight in the cafeteria

later on when he's taken to the hospital he says something very interesting he

asks the doctor how to make it stop how can he stop seeing everyone's pain that

everyone is in pain all the time yet the one thing he can't see is his

own pain it reminds me of a Bible verse from Matthew 7 first remove the beam out

of your own eye and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your

brother's eye Charlie can't even see his own pain but it's so strongly there that

it manifests itself as if he's seeing everyone else's it's as if his pain

itself has anchored to him this frequency of pain and suffering but

unless he faces the darkness within he won't be able to stop seeing it in

others - as he faces his past and comes to terms with it he begins to let go and

find healing something we all must do on our journey of reconciling our own pasts

here we find another moving lesson as Charlie lets go of his past he also must

let go of his friends as they graduate and move on into new realities yet not

forgetting or losing their friendship just adding some distance and still

maintaining a strong relationship one final aspect of the story we must

explore is this very human moment where Sam and Charlie have a serious talk

Sam reveals something very deep and moving something we can all learn from

she says that she doesn't just want to be someone's crush but that she wants

someone to love her for who she truly is it is a powerful and very heartfelt

moment revealing the deepest part of her character showing the soul from the ego

and for both of these characters expressing what they really want most on

a heart centered level and a natural expression of the soul

as the story comes to a close Charlie discovers that we may accept the love

that we think we deserve but it is our duty to show people that they deserve

more we all deserve to fly through the tunnel

to see the lights and everything that makes you wonder with those who you love

most in the world and realize that deep down in all of our hearts we are

infinite