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Argumentative Essay On Flowers For Algernon

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“Flowers for Algernon” Argumentative Essay In the story “Flowers for Algernon”, written by Daniel Keyes, a mentally challenged, thirty-seven year old man named Charlie Gordon received a once in a lifetime opportunity- he may be able to triple his intelligence. The experiment- which was not tested on humans- was run by two doctors: Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss. The medical professionals were opportunists and would try anything for the experiment to work- even permanently subdue humans. Charlie dreamed that his chance to be an average, intelligent man would arrive. Charlie was blind to the hardships he would face. These hardships are extremely difficult to overcome by a mortal man. The thoughts of being rejected by society, becoming a human guinea …show more content…

Charlie’s mindset of normalcy was to become intellectual; Charlie would bound at the first possible second to acquire his dream. Once Charlie was introduced to an experimental operation, Charlie craved the idea of being the test subject. Little to his knowledge, Charlie would be the first human trial with the operation. The desired after effect of both the doctors- apex opportunists- and Charlie was to increase the intelligence of a disabled man. The doctors exploited Charlie’s optimistic state, which shielded him from the dangers of the experiment. Once the operation was completed, Charlie was tested by racing a mouse, Algernon, through a maze- a simple one at that- to show just how inadequate Charlie was. Algernon was give the same operation as Charlie; nevertheless, Charlie was still compared to an inferior species to mankind. The initial “success” of the experiment superseded all of the scientists’ predictions- Charlie was ecstatic with his newly acquired intelligence. Charlie was lied to about how society would benefit from the surgery; the truth though, was that society would not know the achievements that Charlie Gordon created. Charlie may have become a human sacrifice as a result of the surgery; he would die as alone as when he was retarded. Charlie was too advanced for the geniuses around him, forcing him to become an even greater outcast than before the surgery. Charlie was able to see the failure of the experiment as a result of being an

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Flowers for Charlie “Those who use others are stupid but those who are used are even more stupid” (Internet). Charlie Gordon, the main character in Daniel Keyes’ book, Flowers for Algernon, ended up being in worse condition after undergoing a surgical procedure that was supposed to heighten his intelligence. Furthermore, the scientists unfortunately did not use ethics or take enough care in treating Charlie causing his now worse condition to be their own fault. Their greed led them to abuse and take advantage of Charlie, a very gullible and persuadable because of his low intelligence, and their mistakes led Charlie to his death, the ultimate sacrifice.

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452 Words | 2 Pages

The setting of “Flowers for Algernon” takes place in New York during the 1960s where people with mental disabilities were treated unfairly. Even though Charlie and Max persevered through similar situations, Charlie had a different personality. Unlike Max, Charlie was innocent, extroverted, and naive. We know this because Keyes presented in the book, “Everybody laffed and we had a good time and they gave me lots of drinks and Joe said Charlie is a card when he is potted”(Keyes 40). With Charlie being outspoken, he was able express in a positive manner what he was feeling and believed.

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The doctors didn’t inform Charlie about the surgery anything what so ever. They didn’t tell him about the risk or what could go wrong doing the procedure. They treated Charlie as a lab rad, which he is not. They had no respect for Charlie or his well being and only cared about their research. Charlie as a patient has the right to be treated as one, not a test subject.

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718 Words | 3 Pages

But when Charlie got the surgery, he realized when his intelligence was wearing off, he got super depressed but he powered through the depression. One quote from the book that indicates depression is “please... please let me not forget how to read and write.” (keyes 25). Even though he is forgetting how to read and write and he is getting depressed, he powers through the depression. On the last page he says “im taking a cuple of books along and even if i cant reed them ill practise hard and maybe i wont forget every thing i learned.

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722 Words | 3 Pages

All stories, even bestsellers, owe their wide-ranging success to their character and its personality; Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers for Algernon” is an example of its importance. The novel is a struggle between Charlie Gordon—the main character and protagonist—and the outside world. Charlie Gordon—mainly referred to as Charlie—is a mentally impaired man who strives to do better and become smarter, and the perfect opportunity arises when a chance to go under an operation that will increase his intelligence. This develops the making of a great story; however, if Charlie is not bold or pronounced enough, he loses his individuality, and, in turn, the amount of interest a reader will harness. In “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie’s mindset and thought process also introduce antagonists Joe Carp and Frank Reilly, both of whom were his coworkers, and they also have unique mindsets.

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683 Words | 3 Pages

“Flowers for Algernon” Argumentative Essay Charlie should never have had the surgery. Despite the hope that a miracle would save Charlie Gordon from looming regression, in Daniel Keyes, “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie struggled and failed to remember all of the knowledge that he had accumulated. Charlie’s conflict with society, based on his innate lack of cognitive ability, compelled him to learn and find a way to make himself “normal.” Charlie wanted a miracle and he was the repercussions. Doctor Nemur and Doctor Strauss were two eager and ambitious doctors, who recognized Charlie’s vulnerability and used his desperation to recruit him for the experiment.

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525 Words | 3 Pages

They only cared about what they would get from the experiment, It didn’t matter what happened to Charlie. Charlie Gordon's doctors also didn’t think of what would happen to his after the surgery, Charlie ended up losing his job because people found it wrong for Charlie to end up learning all this information so quickly. He also

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The novel Flowers of Algernon by Keyes have one major thematic augments which we shall discuss in this paper. The thematic augment is about the mistreatment of the people who are mentally disabled (Yal 7-14). The fictional idea in the novel of falsely diminishing or augmenting intelligence has enabled Keyes to be able to provide a portrayal of the society telling or showing how the mentally disabled are mistreated. After Charlie has been operated he becomes more intelligent and he transforms effectively from the known man who is mentally retarded and becomes a genius. It’s during this period when he realizes that the people in the society have been having attitudes

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897 Words | 4 Pages

He has a good natcher hes interested and eager to please,” on page 185.   This quote is what the doctors were saying about Charlie. This quote reveals that his perspective is surprising because most people of his level of of intelligence are hostile and do not want to

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However, after the surgery, Charlie finds intelligence was a nice treat but was far from an importance in life and only took him away from what truly mattered. One could believe Charlie was wrong to undergo the surgery because of the side effects that came with the surgery such as physical and emotional instability, and amnesia, the depresion it came with, and how he lost all of his friends and loved ones with his extreme intelligence. First off, one reason Charlie should not have gotten the surgery is the depression and suicidal thoughts it came with for

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705 Words | 3 Pages

Flowers of Algernon, a short story by Daniel Keyes, has many ethical dilemmas with the experimental procedure that would transform 37-year-old Charlie Gordon from a simple man of low intelligence to one of very high intelligence. One of the key concerns that engaged the reader audience was the topic of why two persons from the same community, such as colleagues Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur, might believe differently about utilising science to experiment on human intelligence. This topic will be addressed individually, beginning with Dr. Strauss and ending with a comparison based on their distinct differences throughout the storyline. Dr. Strauss is described early in the novel from Charlie's point of view as an intelligent Neurosurgeon with his own priorities who aspires to establish his own path while also revolutionising Neurosurgical practises around the world through the experiment. He is confident and always thinks things thoroughly before acting.

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1205 Words | 5 Pages

Second, charlie should have had the surgery because he had further expanded science how well, For instance, we can see this event happens when “charlie proclaims on April 28 I found out what a Rorshach is. It’s the test I took before the operation, the one with the inkblots on the pieces of cardboard… we went through the cards slowly, One of them looked like a pair of bats tugging at something. Another one looked like a pair of two men fencing with swords, I had imagined all sorts of things, but I guess I got carried away”. Pg.5 (Keyes) By looking at the evidence we can see that before the operation that charlie was having a mental problem within himself and that was one of the reasons before the operation he didn't see anything before just saw ink, now after the operation, he can see that there is a hidden picture Ex.

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563 Words | 3 Pages

However, at the scientific convention, he realizes that his friends, as well as most others, have been treating him with condescension, even the scientists that he had entrusted with his life. This turning point in Charlie’s mental abilities highlights his turn from blissfully ignorant to a disillusioned genius. When Professor Nemur, the scientist who worked with Charlie, gives his presentation, he calls Charlie one of “nature's mistakes and by [his] new technique [... he has] created a superior human being” (103). Though Nemur has always been polite to Charlie’s face, he sees him as a simple test subject and nothing more. Being dehumanized by Nemur angers Charlie, especially once he is able to comprehend what Nemur explains to the convention.

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886 Words | 4 Pages

Before Charlies operation he was not able to express his feelings accurately, but Charlies temporary intelligence

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576 Words | 3 Pages

Although, if Charlie did not have the surgery, he would not have had the experience of becoming super smart. Charlie would agree with me that he did not feel happy with himself that he had the surgery. He decided that he wanted to leave New York because he was so embarrassed about pulling a “Charlie Gordon.” Charlie should not have had the surgery because, before the surgery, he had the motivation to become smart, and after the surgery, he became depressed and realized that the world plus the people in it are

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