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Intelligence And Ignorance In Plato's Flowers For Algernon

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Flowers for Algernon raises the question of intelligence—namely, is it better to be ignorant or wise? Plato discusses the aspects of intelligence and ignorance in Republic using the cave analogy. Plato’s cave analogy is much like the story of Charlie Gordon: a man who was removed from his cave and brought before the light. Initially, he was blinded by the sunlight (an analogy for enlightenment/knowledge) but gradually came to a new understanding of the world. Those around him fear his new self much like the prisoners who feel that the released prisoner is crazy for his trusted beliefs about the world. He even feels pity for those who are still trapped in the cave of ignorance. Once he loses that intelligence, however, he is brought back into
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For Charlie Gordon being smart is all he wants,or so he thinks, Charlie has wanted to be smart for so long for so many reasons. In Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Charlie learns that if you do not know then do not worry about it. After Charlie had an operation to gain his intelligence, the most important lesson Charlie learns is that ignorance is bliss. Charlie learns the lesson of ignorance is bliss through his friendships, situations, and his conclusions he has drawn in his writings.

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