Brad Character Analysis in The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Brad is yet another character who experiences familial abuse. He is the senior football quarterback and a popular guy at school who secretly dates Patrick. Brad’s dad beats him after finding him together with Patrick, demonstrating why Brad felt the need to hide his sexual orientation. After the discovery, Brad and Patrick get into an argument at school, during which Brad calls Patrick a “faggot,” prompting them to get into a fist fight that Charlie breaks up. Weeks later, Charlie and Patrick see Brad hooking up with other guys at the park where Patrick goes to look for discrete hook-ups. Brad is one of the more tragic figures in the novel because he has to hide his identity at home and at school without the supportive friend group that Patrick has.

Brad Character Timeline in The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The timeline below shows where the character Brad appears in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...for the first time. After using the bathroom, Charlie accidentally walks in on Patrick and Brad kissing, and Patrick asks Charlie to keep this secret because Brad is afraid of people... (full context)

Describing more of the homecoming dance, Charlie explains that Patrick and Brad didn’t speak to each other, and he saw Brad dancing with a girl who is... (full context)

Patrick explains to Charlie how he and Brad started seeing each other after fooling around at a party, and they continued to do... (full context)

When Brad returns from rehab, he avoids Patrick until eventually they agree to see each other sober... (full context)

Trauma, Abuse, and Mental Health Theme Icon

Healing and Self-discovery through Literature and Writing Theme Icon

While buying another stash of weed, Charlie hears about Brad’s dad catching Brad with Patrick. Brad’s dad beat him so badly that he didn’t come... (full context)

When Brad returns to school on Monday, Charlie recognizes a change in him: he no longer has... (full context)

...always begins their nights excited and ends them looking sad. At one point, they see Brad picking up another guy in the park, but Patrick says nothing. He throws a wine... (full context)