The Perks of Being a Wallflower Allusions and Cultural References

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Historical References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.

• The Smiths (1.4.5)
• "Asleep" by The Smiths (1.4.7), (2.2.13), (2.7.7)
• Good Housekeeping (1.6.21)
• Cosmopolitan (1.6.25)
• Saturday Night Live (1.6.31), (2.13.4)
• Fantasy Island (1.6.31)
• The Love Boat (1.6.31)
• M*A*S*H (1.6.33), (1.6.49), (2.12.22), (2.12.39)
• Big Boy restaurant - (referenced throughout)
• "Blackbird" by the Beatles (1.10.102), (2.7.7)
• "MLK" by U2 (1.10.102), (2.7.7)
• "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac (1.10.117), (2.7.7)
• Pink Floyd (2.1.9)
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (referenced throughout)
• The Village People (2.7.7)
• Blondie (2.7.7)
• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana (2.7.7)
• "Vapour Trail" by Ride (2.7.7)
• "Scarborough Fair" by Simon & Garfunkel (2.7.7)
• "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum (2.7.7)
• "Time of No Reply" by Nick Drake (2.7.7)
• "Dear Prudence" by the Beatles (2.7.7)
• "Gypsy" by Suzanne Vega (2.7.7)
• "Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues (2.7.7)
• "Daydream" by Smashing Pumpkins (2.7.7)
• "Dusk" by Genesis, pre-Phil Collins (2.7.7)
• "Something" by the Beatles (2.10.22)
• It's a Wonderful Life (2.12.3), (2.12.87)
• Donkey Kong (2.12.42)
• Nirvana (3.3.6)
• Jim Morrison (3.3.7)
• John Lennon (3.3.7)
• The Beatles (3.3.10)
• Gomer Pyle (3.4.7)
• The Producers, the original movie (3.5.7)
• Reds (3.7.5)
• The Slits (3.9.32)
• Billie Holliday (3.9.33), (3.10.7), (3.10.18)
• To Kill a Mockingbird, the movie (3.11.14)
• The Beatles' White Album (3.11.20)
• Mary Tyler Moore (4.2.2), (4.2.6)
• "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister (4.4.44), (4.4.46)
• The Graduate (4.6.5)
• Harold & Maude (4.6.5)
• My Life as a Dog (4.6.5), (4.13.96)
• Dead Poets Society (4.6.5)
• The Unbelievable Truth (4.6.5)
• Peanuts comics (4.11.2)
• "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" by Pink Floyd (4.13.4)
• Night of the Living Dead (4.13.96)