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The main character of the story "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, is a 37 year-old man named Charlie Gordon who has a learning disability and is viewed by society as a mentally retarded man. The book focuses on an operation in which Charlie gets to alter his I.Q., Charlie agrees to the operation without being aware that the experiment has only been tested on lab animals. The drawback to this operation is that the long-term outcomes of the operation are unknown, and despite the fact that the operation succeeds the first months, Charlie is later posed with an emotional downward spiral. Even though Charlie did not have the ability to learn at the same pace as others Charlie was the mere definition of happiness. He enjoyed his life and had a passion and desire to keep on learning no matter how long it would take him, he worked happily in a bakery as a janitor, and surrounded himself …show more content…
The dictionary definition of intelligence is the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations, the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests). But this book shows a new perspective of the meaning of intelligence. The definition of intelligence as depicted in the book is having certain attributes that help you become a better individual. Having the qualities of being honest and compassionate. To posses this type of intelligence a person does not need to be smart or have high I.Q, but needs to be able to have happiness and peace in life by being a kind person even if it is in an abstract form. Charlie had this type of intelligence, but after the surgery he began to develop his intellectual intelligence and started to lose his emotional intelligence. He started to forget how to interact with people. Therefore Charlie’s “disability” was not one after all, but it was his greatest
In this novel, Flowers for Algernon, written by Daniel Keyes, a man named Charlie Gordon has an operation done to increase his intelligence. He started as a mentally retarded man and slowly became a genius. He seemed to soak up information like a sponge and he was able to figure out the most complex scientific formulas. The only problem with the operation is that it does not last for ever and in his remaining time he tries to figure out why it is not permanent. He will eventually lose everything he learned and become worse off than when he started, so Charlie was better off before he had the operation.
“Ignorance is bliss,” is an old saying used throughout time and can be applied to the tragic yet inspiring (5) story know as Flowers for Algernon. Author Daniel Keyes creates a mentally challenged character, Charlie Gordon, who has went through his life completely unaware of his disability is given an opportunity to change everything. As the story progress Charlie is faced with a constant battle between intellect and emotion or happiness, which leads to some dire situations and choices he may not be ready to make.
In the story "Flowers for Algernon", the main character, Charlie Gordon is a mentally retarded 37 year-old man with an IQ of sixty-eight. Although he might not have been smart, I believe that Charlie was the definition of happiness. He worked happily as a janitor, was motivated to learn, and had a great time with his so called ?friends.? After Charlie undergoes an experiment that triples his IQ, his life changes for the worse. With intelligence does not come happiness.
He is then judged even harsher which is why you shouldn’t try to be someone that you’re not. You should stay true to yourself. In the story, it says “Their going to use me! I am so exited I can hardly write” (Keyes page 351). This implies that Charlie is anxious to undergo the surgery that will make him smart. Another part says “If you volenteer for this experament you mite get smart”. (Keyes page 351) This shows that the operation will make him more intelligent so he can fit in with everyone else. This proves that Charlie is trying to be someone he is not in order to fit
Everyone knows that every story has two sides, but the tricky part is figuring out which side to believe. In the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keys, Charlie Gordon, a 37-year-old man with a mental handicap, has an operation performed on him to artificially increase his intelligence. Before and after the operation, there were drastic changes in the lives of Charlie and all those around him. While the operation caused many twists and turns for Charlie and his peers, the pros far outweighed the cons.
The novel, Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes, is an incredible story about a developmentally disabled man named Charlie, chosen for an experiment that offers him the opportunity to become “smart”, his deepest wish in life. It is the story of how individuals labeled retarded, are treated with less concern than most people. It is the story of Charlie Gordon and the challenges he faces to fit in a society where his family, and friends find him either “too dumb” or “too smart” simply because he is different from them. Although there are several external and internal conflicts in the novel Flowers of Algernon, including the conflict between the new and the old Charlie, the conflict between Charlie and Alice as she is threatened by the new Charlie,
Everyday, people experience unfair discrimination. It can be due to a variety of different characteristics, and one that is often overlooked is intelligence. In the book Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, the main character, Charlie Gordon, undergoes an experiment to turn him from mentally retarded to a genius. Before and after the experiment, Charlie is unfairly treated because of his level of intelligence. Charlie is made fun of at the bakery where he works, then is fired from the bakery, and is told he was not a real person before his intelligence increased. In Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes uses Charlie to show how difficult it is for people to accept the intellectual differences of others because they do not understand their
Not everyone gets the chance to be a genius, but if you do dear god hold onto it as long as you can. Being smart can change your life for the better or for the worst (depends on how you think). In the short story “Flowers For Algernon” by Daniel Keyes a 37 year old man named Charlie who is declared dumb or idiotic becomes a genius from an operation. He also meets an animal just like him-a white mouse. This mouse called Algernon has gone through the same operation, but things don’t turn out as well as planned by the scientists. Yes, Charlie Gordon should have gotten this operation.
“Ignorance is bliss,” is an old saying used throughout time and can be applied to the tragic yet inspiring (5) story know as Flowers for Algernon. Avid writer and author, Daniel Keyes creates a mentally challenged character, Charlie Gordon, who has gone through his life completely unaware of his disability is given an opportunity to change everything. As the story progress Charlie is faced with a constant battle between intellect and emotion or happiness, which leads to some dire situations and choices he may not be ready to make.
In the novel, beginning from the first paragraph, Charlie’s intentions are clear; he wishes to become intelligent above anything. Within the very first progress journal Charlie describes his willingness to become intelligent. “All my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb and my mom always tolld me to try …but its very hard to be smart and even when I lern … at the school I ferget alot." (Keyes 4). Charlie indicates his eagerness to become intelligent began ever since he was little yet, his weak memory holds him back, but nonetheless being smart is his one goal. Also when Charlie is talking about why he wants to become intelligent he reveals he believes becoming smart will bring him friends to keep him company. He reports, “if your smart you can have lots of frends to talk to and you never get lonley by yourself all the time.” (15). Charlie believes being smart is the key to popularity and gaining friends who will want to spend time with him, therefore becoming intelligent for him is the key to happiness. In addition when the professor reminds Charlie all the fame he could acquire if he was successful reminds he shakes it off. He reflects “I dont care so much about beeing famus. I just want to be smart like other pepul so I c...
Flowers for Algernon Flowers for Algernon, written by Daniel Keyes, is a book that is an emotional roller coaster. This book includes science that one day might not be fictional but may come true and will be able to be used by people who have intellectual disabilities in today's world. The book starts with a man, who is mentally retarded, writing in a journal about them using him in a surgery used to change him for the better. This mans name is Charlie Gordon. He is the kind of man who works hard to achieve only little accomplishments and never gives up.
After all of this Charlie becomes a more complete person because he realizes that he is better off being mentally disabled rather than being very intelligent since he understands what he is turning into, he finally makes true love to Alice and gets his true friends. Therefore, even though Charlie becomes mentally retarded by the end, he becomes a more complete person. Charlie undergoes a lot of changes during his journey. He matures which contributes to his intelligence growth, learns significant life lessons, and realizes that he is better off being mentally retarded rather than a genius. Charlie does not realize the fact that after becoming a genius, he is as far away from his goal of being normal and fitting in as he is being mentally retarded.
This book is written in “reports” to scientists that are studying him and his mental capacity. Charlie is going through with a surgery that the scientists believed would improve his I.Q greatly. All the while, Charlie did not understand how dangerous that the procedure was, but agreed to go through with it anyway. He goes through a series of tests to keep on record for after he gains intelligence, and is soon
In a 1921 symposium entitled “Intelligence and Its Measurement”, psychiatrists were asked to define intelligence and their answers varied greatly. One described intelligence as “equivalent to the capacity to learn.” Other definitions included “the ability to adapt adequately to relatively new situations”, “the capacity to learn or profit from experience”, and “the knowledge that an individual possesses.” And one stated that there was no simple definition to the word because “intelligence involves two factors- the capacity for knowledge and knowledge possessed” (Sternberg & Detterman, 1986, p.39-40).
Intelligence by definition is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills” (Oxford Dictionary, 2014). However, many psychologists argue that there is no standard definition of ‘intelligence’, and there have been many different theories over time as psychologists try to find better ways to define this concept (Boundless 2013). While some believe in a single, general intelligence, others believe that intelligence involves multiple abilities and skills. Another largely debated concept is whether intelligence is genetically determined and fixed, or whether is it open to change, through learning and environmental influence. This is commonly known as the nature vs. nurture debate.