Comparing the Main Characters of the Book The Catcher in the Rye and the Movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower

After reading the book The Catcher in the Rye and watching the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower I can conclude that they have similarities as well as differences. They both include two main characters that share common similarities. Both of these main characters have been through many events, as well as held in their own anger issues. In The Catcher in the Rye the main character Holden along with failing all of his classes had to deal with his brother dying. In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the main character, Charlie, just like Holden dealt with so much from no having friends being sexually assaulted by his aunt and then having her die. Both this movie and this book can be shown to be very similar in comparison to the main characters and what they went through.

Similarities between the main characters in both this movie and book by Holden just like Charlie dealt with so much when they were just little kids. Holden, when he was younger had to deal with his brother dying due to cancer. Charlie, when he was younger was sexually assaulted by his aunt and then she sadly died in a car accident while getting his birthday present. Contrasting these characters, Holden, caught up in his own sadness after his brother’s death, began failing classes and had to deal with a cocky roommate who he does not like. But as for Charlie, he was able to find a group of friends that he really liked. Overall, both characters have been through a lot of tragedy, but have both handled it differently.

Soon Holden finally gets a girlfriend, but immediately wants to break up with her. Charlie also gets a girlfriend, even though he loves someone else. He soon realized that she was not the girl he wanted to be dating, and wants to end it. Both girlfriends of both Holden and Charlie became very annoying to the both of them. For example, Charlie tells how his girlfriend would call him right as he got off the bus, would talk for hours and never leave him alone. Holden's girlfriend would annoy him in the same way. To overall compare, both of these characters had to deal with girlfriends, that they didn't even want to be dating, as well as annoyed them very much.

Another similarity is that both Holden and Charlie, have anger issues. A difference between the is that Holden likes to get underneath people's skin. Whereas Charlie, likes to be the innocent one who doesn't mess with people unless he has to. An example of when Charlie had to make trouble is when he takes on the toughest kids at school, and beats them all up, just for his friend. Both of these characters have issues that they can not control, meaning Holden with his anger issues and his constant lying, and Charlie with his constant flashbacks of the day that was making him go insane.

In conclusion, in both the book, The Catcher in the Rye, and the movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the main characters can be compared to be very similar but they also have a few differences. At the end, the main characters having been through so many events, as well as holding in their own anger issues, they finally reach their limits. Holden and Charlie, at the end learn the same lesson and have the same overall outcome. The ending of both includes Holden and then Charlie being taken to a hospital so that they can get the help that they need. The book as well as the movie showed viewers many valuable lessons as well as were very enjoyable.