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Flowers For Algernon

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Struggle of Intelligence in Flowers for Algernon “... the victories and defeats of life might link human beings in a similar way, if only we could learn mutual trust and respect despite our differences” (Brynie). Daniel Keyes’ novel, Flowers for Algernon, centers around the struggle of a mentally retarded man, Charlie Gordon. Charlie learns how unaccepting society is towards his disabilities when he gains intelligence through advanced technology. Published in 1966, Keyes writes about the consequences of technology in a time where technology is quickly developing. Daniel Keyes expresses the evolving abuse of technology through recurring themes, symbols, and morals that affect the main character Charlie Gordon. Charlie Gordon’s family and …show more content…

As Charlie gradually becomes smarter, he “finds pain in self-knowledge.” (Brynie). With his gain of intelligence, Charlie realizes that society does not treat him as well as he thought, and this discovery leads to much emotional pain. The experiment itself “...raises the question of whether or not scientific progress was achieved…” (Wroble). This idea emphasizes the abuse of science and technology in the novel that develops when the experiment concludes with Charlie deteriorating back to his original state due to unfinished research. “... humans should not try to attain knowledge, but rather that they should be conscious of the limitations of a purely intellectual approach to life.” (Telgen). Furthermore, this criticism reflects the boundaries of knowledge and intelligence Keyes explores, making a point against the abuse of science. Speaking out against the abuse of science in Flowers for Algernon is Fanny Girden, one of Charlie’s coworkers. “... she whispered: ‘It was evil when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. It was evil when they saw they was naked, and learned about lust and shame… If not for that none of us would have to grow old and be sick and die.’” (Keyes 107). Including Fanny’s views is important because she emphasizes the unnatural side of the experiment and the effects from abnormally gaining knowledge by referencing The Bible as a parallel. These morals reflect the process that drives Charlie’s struggle to understand himself and the world around him as he becomes more

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1300 Words | 6 Pages

Claire Aguilar-Hwang Mrs. Veitch 2 2/15/18 Endless Possibilities Entering a rocket, risking life, exhilarating adventures waiting. Travelling to the moon, to the endless possibilities in outer space, just like what 37 year old Charlie Gordon feels in the science fiction short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. He has a surgery, risking his life. There are highs and lows waiting for him the minute the surgery is complete.

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413 Words | 2 Pages

He experiences, psychotic behavior, convulsions, paranoia, and more, Leonard eventually goes back to the catatonic state he was in towards the beginning of the film and eventually passes away. As Well as in Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon after the surgery Charlie was using big words and, his IQ was very high, but he started to rapidly decline towards the end of the story and eventually says he is "going away" which can be inferred as the after life and/or death. It can be understood that although the results of both treatments were good at first, the long term effects were not well known and neither of characters had good long term outcomes. A third connection between Algernon's Flowers and the film's awakening is the similarity of medical ethics issues. On page 270 of Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Doctors Nemur and Strauss fail to tell Charlie what the operation is, nor does Charlie have any sort of ability to understand what is happening to him.

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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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384 Words | 2 Pages

“In the game, which is designed to strengthen the brain circuits that support number sense, the child tries to beat a cartoon opponent to the end of a number line disguised as a colorful racetrack... Young children who play the game do show improvements on basic numerical cognition,” (Flora). It’s almost as if the dyscalculic children who play this game are racing an electronic Algernon. In conclusion, “Flowers for Algernon” and Charlie Gordon have many similarities to “No Head for Numbers” and Steph

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476 Words | 2 Pages

Penland "Flowers for Algernon" is the short story of a man named Charlie Gordon. Charlie is a 37 year old man. He is not very smart. He has an IQ lower than 70, but he wants to be smart like the rest of the people in his life. He doesn’t want to be dumb anymore.

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959 Words | 4 Pages

As the experiment takes an impact, Charlie’s knowledge expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who prepared his surgery. The

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879 Words | 4 Pages

In the text, Charlie expresses leaving New York would be the more beneficial decision after understanding he was being made fun of and losing his brilliance. Nevertheless, in the film, although Charlie refuses Miss Kinnian’s proposal, he does not find life so miserable that he has to leave the city. He nonchalantly lives the rest of his life carefree. All in all, the story “Flowers for Algernon” displays a great narrative arc that is represented differently in the film and the text. Both versions show the tension building up to the turning point when Charlie’s intelligence reaches its peak, but execute the ending of the story somewhat differently.

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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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931 Words | 4 Pages

Authors use characters and genres to develop theme. Sometimes different genres can be used to build the same theme. In the poem, “The Lesson of the Moth,” poet Don Marquis uses the protagonist, a moth, to teach the narrator, Archy, a cockroach, what it is like to have a dream worth dying for. Similarly, Daniel Keyes, author of “Flowers for Algernon,” a short story, uses the main character, Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who longs to be smart, to develop the idea that it is better to risk to achieve happiness rather than to live wondering what life could have been like. Both the poet and the author use the main character in their literary work to contribute to the idea that risking something is worth even momentary happiness.

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776 Words | 4 Pages

The author uses this device to show the character’s realization of how American society values intelligence and education. As Charlie’s intelligence grows, he is able to understand and connect with his peers, as shown when he says, “I am beginning to understand Algernon’s behavior, and it’s beginning to make sense to me” (Keyes, 23). This quote highlights how knowledge can foster empathy and understanding, which is

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1124 Words | 5 Pages

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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957 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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809 Words | 4 Pages

Like everybody around here’s been saying, Charlie, it’s not right.” Charlie’s response to that was, “But how can you say that, Fanny? What’s wrong with a man becoming intelligent and wanting to acquire knowledge and understanding of the world around him?”Charlie was disappointed in Fanny when she said that it wasn’t very possible for Charlie to become smart that quickly. This is another very important event that happens in this story because Charlie tries to change himself to fit in and then realizes that’s not what matters. What matters is that he’s happy and it doesn’t matter what other people

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886 Words | 4 Pages

The novel Flowers for Algernon written by Daniel Keyes effectively explores the complex human experiences of disability and the impact that it has on individuals and society through its three major themes; Self-realisation , Alienation and loneliness and treatment of the mentally disabled by society. Through these themes this response will highlight the difficulties experienced by people with disabilities and the people in their lives. The first theme in Flowers for Algernon is self-realisation. Charlie’s new found knowledge has allowed him to have the ability to voice his needs and wants for understanding, acceptance, and love.

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662 Words | 3 Pages

Flowers for Algernon explores themes of ethical dilemmas in scientific research. Charlie Gordon is the first human to undergo an experimental operation to triple his IQ from 68 to 204. His mental capacities dramatically increase, but the consequences are drastic when the operation fails and he regresses. Under Charlie’s circumstances, the operation was unethical. Charlie, mentally disabled, cannot give informed consent.

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