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Why Is Charlie Gordon Better Off After Artificial Intelligence

545 Words3 Pages

If you had a chance to triple your I.Q. level to over 200 would you do it? This is a question asked to Charlie Gordon a 37 year old man, with an I.Q. of 68, and the main character of Daniel Keyes’ science fiction story “Flowers for Algernon.” Charlie Gordon was better off after the Artificial Intelligence (Or A.I.) surgery because, his I.Q. level triples, he begins to express more complex emotions, and he could also make huge improvements in the field of science. Due to the A.I. surgery, Charlie’s I.Q. level triples. Charlie’s I.Q level before the surgery was 68 but after the operation his I.Q. level increased to over 200. Here is a quote proving his intelligence increase. “So I still don’t know what I.Q.is except that mine is going to be over 200 soon.” (Keyes 232). That is why Charlie having his I.Q. tripled was a good idea. After the surgery, Charlie began to express more complex emotions. Charlie started to feel sadness, love, happiness, anger, and many others. This is a quote …show more content…

Charlie was able to find that the effects of of A.I. increase were directly proportional to the rate of decrease, Charlie also could have made improvements in the technique used for artificially increasing intelligence. This quote shows how Charlie could have made an advancement in science. “ I have checked and rechecked my results a dozen times in the hope of finding an error. I am sorry to say the results must stand. Yet for the sake of science, I am grateful for the little bit that I here add to knowledge of the human mind and of the laws governing the artificial increase of human intelligence.” (Keyes 239). This shows that with increased intelligence, even for a short time Charlie Gordon was able to figure out something that a room full of scientists could not. This shows that having an increase in intelligence Charlie or anyone could advance how people think about the field of

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545 Words | 3 Pages

From his normal life and he didn’t understand everything to knowing more sophisticated language then before, learned how to read faster, found out that there were people that liked him a lot and he got to live several days being almost 4 times as intelligent as he was before. “If you ever reed this Miss Kinnian dont be sorry for me im glad I got a second chanse to be smart becaus I lerned a lot of things that I never even new were in this world and im grateful that I saw it all for a littel bit.” Charlie remembers the beginning when Miss. Kinnian says that he always has a second chance if he doesn’t want to be tested on. which is why he most likely said yes to be tested

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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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The choice of using Charlie Gordon in Daniel Keyes’ book, Flowers for Algernon, for an intelligence altering surgery was unethical and biased. The first reason that Charlie should not have been chosen for the surgery is that it left him and his life in worse condition than when before the surgery. “ I dont want Miss Kinnian to feel sorry for me. Evry body feels sorry at the factery and I dont want that eather

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His intelligence came with a price that made him rethink his entire situation. Charlie was happier with an IQ of 68 because he was oblivious to what was going on around him, people would treat him differently after the surgery, and he struggled with his identity. Charlie was happier when he was oblivious to what was going on around him. Being oblivious and ignorant is not a good thing, but in Charlie's case, not knowing

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631 Words | 3 Pages

Charlie Gordon has taught us never to take our gifts for granted. In the story ¨Flowers for Algernon¨ by Daniel Keyes, Charlie Gordon is a 37 year old man. He is given the opportunity of a lifetime to raise his I.Q. from 68 to 200+. That is making Charlie´s I.Q. raise about three times from his original I.Q. of 68. Charlie then decides that he will have the artificial intelligence (A.I.) surgery because, Charlie believes that he will fit in and make more friends.

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761 Words | 4 Pages

Flowers For Algernon: Charlie´s Operation If you had the chance to have an operation for artificial intelligence, would you take it? I think that most people would, especially if they have a lower than average IQ. After reading an excerpt from the book Flowers for Algernon and watching Flowers For Algernon the movie, I believe that Charlie Gordon did the right thing when he got the operation to increase his intelligence.

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(Keyes 19). This shows a huge increase of knowledge from Charlie. But as the story goes on, we see Charlie himself drastically changing. There is a decrease mistakes in grammar and more sophisticated language is used. Which was caused by his desperate to be intelligent that illustrates how he perseveres through the whole experiment.

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1063 Words | 5 Pages

Charlie Gordon: A Genius or a Dunce? If you had the chance to increase your intelligence and take the risk of any side effects, would you do it? In Flowers For Algernon, a short story by Daniel Keyes, Charlie Gordon most definitely would. Charlie Gordon is a middle-aged man who has an IQ of 68 but loves to learn.

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Daniel Keyes betrays the theme that intelligence doesn’t affect who you truly are. Before the operation, Charlie has a motivated characteristic and it is still there after the operation when he was getting more intelligent. I know this because in the passage it says, “ I’ll show that mouse I can be as smart as he is (Keyes p. 352),” which shows that Charlie is motivated before the operation . The test also says, “ Miss Kinnian teaches me to spell better (Keyes p. 358),” which shows that Charlie was still motivated and still working to get smarter after the operation. Charlie is a motivated character and that doesn’t change after the operation.

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472 Words | 2 Pages

His I.Q. during childhood and in the beginning of the novel is slightly less than 70. Charlie does wind up being chosen for the experiment and he receives brain surgery. The surgery is a success and Charlie’s intelligence quickly soars. He is happy for a while being able to learn many new things and have mature, adult conversations with others. However, this quickly takes a turn for the worse when his I.Q. surpasses everyone he can have a relationship with, which makes his life more boring and sad: “I am just as far away from Alice with an I.Q. of 185 as I was when I had an I.Q. of 70” (126).

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Anton Tompert Mrs. Veitch 3rd Period 2.15.18 Balance of Awareness Would it be worse to have an IQ of 204 or 68? Would it be worse to know everything but not be able to talk with anyone without frustration or know nothing but not be able to talk of anything more complex than third grade level? In the short science fiction story, “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, Charlie Gordon with an IQ of 68 and has a difficult time learning anything as simple as reading or writing is given the option to triple his intelligence with a suspicious surgery. Charlie, ignorant of the suspicion or risk that comes with this surgery is desperate to become intelligent as it is his only wish and nothing is more important to him. His teacher, Miss Kinnian recommend him for the surgery out of anyone in the class due to his egre and positive outlook on intelligence.

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435 Words | 2 Pages

Charlie gains intelligence like he always wanted, but only to have it be taken away in a time frame of a couple months. Charlie states that, “The hypothesis here proven may be described simply in the following terms: artificially increased intelligence deteriorates at a rate almost proportional to the quantity of the increase.” With realizing the cost of the surgery, he states, “Now that it’s definite, I don’t want it to happen.” Charlie experienced emotions such as anger, sadness, and even love with his intelligence. Now all this will be taken away; like taking away a favorite toy from a child.

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576 Words | 3 Pages

Was Charlie Better Off Before or After the Surgery? In “Flowers for Algernon,” Daniel Keyes wrote that Charlie Gordon has an IQ of 68, and is in Mrs. Kinnian’s night class for slow adults. Charlie may be dumb, but he was so happy before the surgery and he had a job and “friends.” The reason that Charlie Gordon was better off before the surgery is because he had the motivation to become smart, and after the surgery he becomes depressed and realizes that the world plus the people in it are cruel.

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662 Words | 3 Pages

At an IQ of 68, it may not be possible for his brain to make an informed decision. It is unethical to perform a potentially harmful experiment on someone who is unable to give permission. Charlie’s logical-mathematical and linguistic intelligences skyrocket,

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471 Words | 2 Pages

Afterlife What would you need in the afterlife? Ancient Egyptians believed that that there was a life after death, it was called the land of two fields. They believed that it was a real place not imaginary. That life was to be much better and a happier,more enjoyable life. However in order to enter you need to do good deeds in your lifetime (before you died).The more good deeds you did the lighter your heart.

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