"There is another world, there is a better world, well there must be"

       I found The Smiths' song "Asleep" incredibly relevant with its hopeful yet withered essence.  Like Charlie, the song, with its repetition of a few simple phrases--"Sing me to sleep, I don't want to wake up"-- leaks a kind of weathered spirit.  However, its hopeful aura, illustrated in the last lines--"Deep in the cell of my heart, I really want to go, there is another world, there is a better world, well there must be"-- sparks the memories of Perks's audience as its members are reminded of Charlie's similar optimism.  Even this image of "deep in the cell of his heat,"  the speaker of "Asleep" reminds Perks's audience of Charlie's compassion for humanity.  Apart from their charismatic similarities, the hopeful hopelessness correlates with Charlie's observations and feelings in his letters.
       Charlie says in his first letter that he writes to the recipient of his mail because he hears he is of the highest moral character and wants to know that people like the recipient exist.  Charlie needs to know that the world is a good place, but throughout the short span of three introductory letters, he constantly reminds the reader of the difficulty he has in finding fragments of this hope.  It remains a struggle for him to piece together a compassionate yet logical web of observed human interactions.  Up to this point, about three weeks since his first letter, his observations, similar to those of the fleeting narrator of The Smiths' song, illustrate an unsuccessful attempt to find this "peace" they both seek/sought in the present world-- from his description of the faculty's fidgety reaction to the death of a student; from his addition of his sister's interactions with a timid boy who snapped in a fit of anger; and from his allusion that his family's happiest moments together are merely disguises to the truth of its situation.  The disappointment of these events, which so painfully lack the impetus towards that goal of peace Charlie so unequivocally needs to realize-- the audience can see--simmers in Charlie's heart-- just as the events of the speaker in The Smiths' song, prior to the expression of his final emotions: "Deep in the cell of my heart, I really want to go."

Dear Charlie, I ate a delicious dinner this evening.

       First, Charlie, I would like to post a disclaimer:  Although I did read your letter, I promise not to say anything to anyone about its contents;  I do not even know where you live, so please, do not worry.
       Charlie, I found your letter extremely personal and I wondered if this letter represented the first time you intimately expressed yourself.  I say this only because I noticed you observe keenly but leave out an actual opinion of your observations- such as with your family.  Maybe I could help you with your examination of your family's influence on your psychology.  I like that stuff.  One thing I noticed while you recollected additions of your mom, is that you seem the most similar than any of the other members of your family to your mom.  Does she ever express issues pressing on her heart?  I did not get the impression that she does.  I think you act the same by your discussion of problems.  How do you scale problems?  Through your description of "people who have it a lot worse" it seemed to me that you judge the significance of problems by the number of tears shed.  Also, you expressed the idea that life goes one, whether adversity obstructs someone or not.  I commend you for valuing your well-being enough to try to start expressing yourself and understanding yourself and how you can live the most authentic life that you can.  You learn fabulously.  I like that about you, Charlie.
       I will continue to peruse your letters, if you do not mind.  I enjoy your perspective.  I know you are not desiring it, but if you ever were to need an outsider's thoughts, I am here.

Hang in there,
Liz