Artificial Intelligence In Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon

Daniel Keyes gives readers the perspective on ¬the thoughts of someone with a learning disability in his novel, Flowers for Algernon. The protagonist of the book, Charlie Gordon, expresses a desire to be smart and live as a normal human being. All his life, he receives different treatment due to his lack of knowledge. Eventually, his life changes for the better when he decides to participate in the operation to increase his intelligence. After his surgery, he is given new beneficial opportunities; he accomplishes his ambitions, obtains friendships and true love and the gift to help others.
Charlie’s high intelligence helps him accomplish his ambitions. Before doing the operation, Charlie feels a strong eagerness to learn and be smart. This is greatly accomplished in which he achieves a higher understanding of the world. At any rate, participating in the operation helps him achieve his goal. With that being
For one thing, it helps science advance further into artificial intelligence on humans. The whole experiment on him proves that artificial-induced intelligence on humans works. Even though Charlie reverts back to his old self, scientists can find ways on preventing it with the help of his high intelligence. His progress reports help scientists see the progression of him during the process. “Burt says its part of the esperimint and they will make fotastats of the reports to study them so they will know what is going on in my mind.” (11). He also explains the overall outcome of the experiment with his paper on the “Algernon-Gordon Effect.” He points out that “ARTIFICIALLY-INDUCED INTELLIGENCE DETERIORATES AT A RATE OF TIME DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE QUANTITY OF THE INCREASE.” (177). Despite the fact that the operation did not work on Charlie; he brings science one step closer to help artificial intelligence on humans and help others with learning