Rough Draft Flowers For Algernon

Rough Draft Flowers for Algernon Abel Tesfazghi.

How can I insert more quotes? Check grammar, ensure unrepetitive, format properly Can I include external sources (i.e. statistics) to support my claim? Make sure there is a pathos ethos and logos.

INTRODUCTION In her poem ‘Apprehensions’, American poet and novelist Sylvia Plath hauntingly asks whether “there is no way out of the mind?” This quote, exploring themes of mental anguish and yearning for liberation from inner turmoil, echoes the existential struggle that permeates through Charlie Gordon’s journey in Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers of Algernon.” At 37 years old, Charlie Gordon, constrained by intellectual disability, embarks on an odyssey when offered the chance to enhance his intelligence

Beyond his newfound intellectualism, Charlie’s path symbolizes an exploration of emotional intelligence, evolution, and self-discovery. On page 299 Charlie reflects on his past behavior of joining others and mocking Sonny, a young boy working at a diner, for his intellectual limitations. He grapples with this introspective revelation, realizing he unknowingly participated in self ridicule. “I was just like him”. Only a short time ago, I learned that people laughed at me. Now I can see that unknowingly I joined them in laughing at myself. That hurts most of all” (May 18). This moment of clarity not only demonstrates Charlie’s growth in empathy by acknowledging his previous lack of compassion and understanding towards those different from him, but also highlights his journey towards self-acceptance, marking a milestone in his personal growth and development. “I find the calculus of intelligence to be a fascinating study... in a sense, it’s the problem I’ve been concerned with all my life” (May 29). Charlie’s continuous pursuit of knowledge, not solely academic but rather for self improvement and enlightenment, reflects his insatiable curiosity and yearning to learn and connect disparate fields of knowledge. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a renowned American poet, argues that ‘in essence, growth itself is the only evidence

From June 4th onwards, the day Charlie acknowledges Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss’s experimental failure in his report, Algernon-Gordon Effect: A study of Structure and Function of Increased Intelligence, his tone and demeanor become quite somber, this being the catalyst into despair. Despite attempting to remain stoic in his apology contained in the report — “I am sorry, however, that my own contribution to the field must rest upon the ashes of the work of two men I regard so highly” (June 4), Charlie begins to self-isolate as he feels the “darkness closing in” (June 15), insinuating suicidal thoughts. One can only imagine the heartache, anger, and misery Charlie feels watching Algernon slowly deteriorate, as he grapples with the weight of his impending fate: “I have become absent-minded. Algernon died two days ago. I guess the same thing is or will soon be happening to me” (June 10). This is a cruel reality for Charlie, as he is acutely aware of having achieved everything he ever wanted, from wanting to "show that mouse I [he] can be as smart as he is'' (progris report 5 - March 10), to eventually witnessing Miss Kinnian burst into tears and run out of the room when she realizes, "Charlie Gordon was once a genus [sic] and now he cant even read a book or rite well [sic]” (June 28). The metaphorical expression — is the beauty of the rose worth the sting of its thorns? —