Flowers For Algernon By Daniel Keyes

Nowadays, technology grants humanity the ability to play God and fulfill wishes. Whether you wish for health or wealth, your dream can now be realized. So, given the chance, what is the one thing you would wish for? For Charlie Gordon from the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, there is only one thing he wishes for: intelligence. In this short story, Daniel Keyes shines a light on the dark reality of human nature and the value society assigns to intelligence through the use of literary elements such as a relevant theme and character development. Besides that, living in an environment where their grades determine their worth, modern day students will be able to empathize with Charlie on the topic of intelligence. Hence, due to

This short story is exceptional in many aspects, but what makes it still so relatable and relevant to this day is the theme that the author communicates throughout the story. Daniel Keyes claims that even the most desirable gift has unforeseen and unfortunate consequences that can irrevocably alter one’s life. The author utilizes this theme to emphasize the conflict between emotion and intelligence and the struggles the ‘gift’ of intelligence has brought Charlie. Prior to the surgical procedure, Charlie’s peers “laughed” and “despised” him for his “ignorance and dullness” (Keyes 13). Although Charlie could not comprehend what his supposed friends were laughing about, he always knew he was excluded from his friend group. As a result, he believed that becoming smart was equivalent to making friends and becoming socially acceptable. Therefore, it was this belief Charlie had that further prompted him to undergo the experiment. However, upon completing the surgical procedure, Charlie’s peers now “hate” him for his “knowledge and understanding” and

Following the surgery, Charlie can now process a wider range of emotions and understand nuanced social cues. To illustrate, Charlie reacts strongly upon witnessing the humiliation a young, intellectually disabled worker received. While the crowd mocks the boy, Charlie feels “sick inside” upon realizing that he had “been laughing at him too”. With a burst of rage Charlie shouts, “but for God’s sake he’s still a human being” (Keyes 15). This starkly contrasts the reaction Charlie had a while ago when his ‘friends’ Joe and Frank played cruel pranks on him. Opposed to responding harshly like he did with the young boy, pre-surgery Charlie completely missed the ‘joke’ and instead was simply grateful that he has two “best friends Joe Carp and Frank Reilly” (Keyes 6). The reaction pre-surgery Charlie had demonstrated his limited knowledge of social cues and his naïve nature. On the other hand, unlike his past self, post-surgery Charlie recognized that the crowd was embarrassing the diner boy and was infuriated—an emotion he had never felt before. Moreover, as Charlie sees himself through the young boy, he now understands how simple-minded he had been; foolishly believing that once he gains the ability to read and write like his peers, he too would be accepted and loved. Sadly, Charlie now understands that rather than gaining love, his intelligence has ultimately disconnected him