The Perks of Being a Wallflower Allusions and Cultural References

When authors give shout outs to other great works, people, and events, it's usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.

Literary and Philosophical References

  • Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird (1.3.2), (1.4.2), (1.4.8), (1.5.2), (1.6.3), (3.11.10), (3.11.12), (3.11.27), (4.13.99)
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise (1.7.21), (3.3.13), (4.13.98)
  • J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan (1.10.3), (2.2.2), (4.13.98)
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (2.7.7), (4.11.3), (4.13.99)
  • John Knowles, A Separate Peace (2.7.7), (4.13.98)
  • Randy Shilts, The Mayor of Castro Street (2.9.4)
  • Anne Rice (2.10.19)
  • Dr. Earl Reum, "A Person, A Paper, A Promise" (2.10.43)
  • J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (2.11.10), (2.12.35), (2.14.2), (3.2.27), (4.13.99)
  • Henry David Thoreau, Walden (2.12.61), (3.8.23), (3.10.2), (3.12.11), (4.13.99), (Epilogue.8)
  • Jack Kerouac, On the Road (3.2.27), (3.4.2), (4.6.8), (4.13.98)
  • William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch (3.4.5), (3.4.6), (3.4.27), (4.6.7), (4.8.8), (4.13.98)
  • E. E. Cummings, "somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond" (3.11.3), (3.11.48)
  • E. E. Cummings (3.11.16), (3.12.3), (4.2.13)
  • William Shakespeare, Hamlet (3.11.14), (3.12.2), (4.13.99)
  • Albert Camus, The Stranger (4.2.27), (4.6.5), (4.8.8), (4.13.98)
  • Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead (4.6.8), (4.7.2), (4.7.7), (4.8.8), (4.11.4), (4.12.38), (4.12.40), (4.13.99)

Historical References

  • The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) (2.12.63) 
  • George H.W. Bush (2.12.63)

Pop Culture References

Are you sitting down? Flex your scrolling finger and get ready for over four-dozen pop-culture references, from music to TV to magazines and movies.