The theme of the perks of being a wallflower
When Charlie originally found out that his sister was hit by her boyfriend he wanted to help her. She told him it was her fault her boyfriend did what he did and she was provoking him. She asked Charlie not to say anything about what happened to their parents. Charlie was confused by this but he did what he was asked. The next day he went to his English teacher Bill, who was like a mentor to him, to discuss the incident that happened the day before. Charlie asked Bill why good people choose bad people for them. After thinking it over Bill replied back to him with something that Charlie said he would always remember and one of the most famous lines in the whole book, "'...we accept the love we think we deserve'"(Chbosky). Charlie later on was talking to Sam after she broke up with Craig. They thought about how she was in a bad relationship but she did really like Craig and and how Patrick is in love with a boy that's too embarrassed to be with Patrick sober, and everyone else who they love that are choosing bad people for themselves. Sam seeking an answer as to why that was happening asked Charlie, "'Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing?'"(Chbosky). Charlie then replies back with the same quote Bill told him before and says to her, "'We accept the love we think we deserve.'"(Chbosky). From that quote you can really get a feel for what the theme is. There are a lot of people in this book in relationships were their partner isn't treating them right.They doubt their worth and what they think they deserve. They end up with a person just because they are willing to be with them. They think that they won't find anyone better because wouldn't be good enough for anyone else. they then settle for what they have and stay in a relationship and not for the proper reasons. They are willing to put up with all the bad because they want to be loved. Getting treated unfairly to have love is something they think they deserve when in reality no