Flowers For Algernon Persuasive Essay

553 Words2 Pages

Flowers for Algernon" Persuasive Essay


If you had a mental disease would you want the same rights as others? I know I would want to have ALL my rights . If you would, why shouldn't people like Charlie Gordon have their rights? In the science fiction story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes the main character Charlie Gordon is a 37 year old man with a mental disease. Due to the mental disease, Charlie has an I.Q. of 68. Charl is given a chance to triple his I.Q. to 204 by having an artificial brain surgery called Artificial Intelligence or (A.I.) for short. Charlie Gordon should have had the brain surgery. Having this surgery caused him to see what a true friend is, also he made a contribution to science and he fell in love with his teacher. …show more content…

surgery Charlie did not know what a true friend was and he was always picked on at Donnegan’s box factory. After having the surgery, when someone tried to make fun of him because he wasn't “smart”, Joe Carp grabbed the worker making fun of Charlie and told him to leave Charlie alone. Joe then told Charlie tell him if ANYONE else picked on him and Joe will take care of it. Charlie stated, “I didn’t expect Joe to take my part so I guess he's really my friend” (Keyes 243). Charlie changing with the surgery caused Joe to stop being a bully and start being a friend. Joe became Charlie's true friend.
With the AI surgery, Charlie also made a contribution to science. Charlie spent some time while his IQ was increased researching the AI surgeries. Charlie realized that the Algernon Gordon Effect was a failure. Charlie said, “I’m grateful for the little bite that I here add to the knowledge of the function of human mind” (Keyes 239). Charlie knew that as quickly as he increased his intelligence is the same as the time it will take for him to decrease in intelligence but Charlie was still grateful that he made a contribution to

Open Document