Charlie Gordon's Accomplishments

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” said Albert Einstein. Charlie Gordon did indeed gain intelligence in the form of imagination, as world-wide physicist Albert Einstein puts it; but at what cost? He was still an outcast, even though he believed he would not be. Some might say that he contributed to science so it was worth it. But he only contributed to the psychology field of science, not like he was fixing the ever-expanding problem of global warming. And ultimately, he dies. Is it ‘worth it’ to take a human life, just to have some notes on a problem that, in reality, won’t ever work?
One of the many reasons Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur should not have chosen Charlie Gordon is because he was still an outcast, even though the Doctors gave him the reality that he would not be. “They’ve Driven me out of the factory. Now I’m more alone than ever before. . . .” (Keyes, 199). When he got smarter they disliked him even more,

when Charlie thought it would make him fit in. “People don’t talk to me much anymore or kid around the way they used to. It makes the job kind of lonely.” (Keyes, 195). Not only did they dislike him even more, they’re scared of him so it makes him even more of an outcast.
Not only was he still an outcast, but he contributed ONLY to his field of science, which is psychology.

“The surgical stimulus to which we were both subjected has resulted in an intensification and acceleration of all mental processes.” (Keyes 204). He found out what was wrong with him. He was very smart, but only solved this one thing, which was unsolvable. “Anyway I bet Im the first dumb person in the world who ever found out something importent for sience.” (Keyes 210). He did do something important for science, but he only shared his views on something that can’t be done.
Above all, Charlie Gordon eventually dies. “Algernon died two days ago.” (Keyes, 205). Algernon died and Charlie and Algernon are very similar because they both had the surgery and got smart and Charlie is losing smarts just like Algernon. “Please if you get a chanse put some flours on Algernons grave in the bak yard. . . .” Charlie Gordon is following the deterioration patterns the same as Algernon. So if he’s dead, Charlie’s going to

die.
In Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, the doctors made a lousy choice by choosing Charlie Gordon for the surgery that made him smarter. Again, Albert Einstein said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” And once more, Charlie Gordon does get more intelligence, but at what cost? What has humanity come to, choosing a person who Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur know doesn’t fully understand the risks of the operation, a person who is as accessible as Charlie Gordon is? This is why we wrote the Belmont Report, to control the scientific studies that could hurt a human being.