Intelligence In Flowers For Algernon

Oxford Languages defines Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as, “a number representing a person's reasoning ability (measured using problem-solving tests) as compared to the statistical norm or average for their age, taken as 100.” Charlie has an IQ of 68, making him below average to the general population. Daniel Keyes’ science fiction short story “Flowers for Algernon” is about a man named Charlie, whose only wish is to become smart, undergoes an operation to triple his IQ. It is told through the journals or Charlie so the reader can see his increase in intelligence, and his inevitable decline. Charlie should not have gotten the operation. He should not have gotten it because his innocence protected him, he was happy, and he was motivated to complete his daily tasks. Charlie’s innocence when his intelligence was low kept him safe from information he would be better off knowing.

They use his name to refer to a stupid action: “Pulling a Charlie Gordon”, but he thinks that they do that because they like him. Charlie writes, “Their really my friends and they like me” (317). Charlie not knowing that he really had no friends, made him happy. If he knew how they treated him, he would not want to work at the factory and would not do anything with his life. He would be alone all the time and would be much more sad. Also, Charlie was much more enthusiastic before the operation. He was incredibly excited when he found out he was chosen to have his IQ tripled. Charlie shares, “Their going to use me! I’m so excited I can hardly write” (313). This proves that Charlie’s life was better before the operation because his happiness did not come from intelligence, and he did not need it to. He was incredibly psyched about even the littlest things. Charlie had a much happier and more meaningful life before the