Nihilism In Daniel Keyes 'Flowers For Algernon'

The book “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, is a first-person narrative composed of “progress reports” about the journey of a 32-year-old developmentally disabled man named Charlie Gordon. Charlie is the first to ever undergo an experimental surgery designed to increase mental capabilities. Before the surgery, Gordon is told to keep a journal to document his progress known as “progress reports.” Over time Gordon gradually gains knowledge and realizes he was mocked his entire life. Once Gordon's intelligence begin’s to increase his ethical perspective changes. Charlie begins his journey with somewhat of a Nihilist ethical perspective. He is faced with making the ethical decision of either going forward with a risky surgery that may

For example, during professor Nemur’s speech at the International Psychological Convention he felt “compelled” to opened Algernon’s cage. Gordon acted upon his own immediate desire of opening the cage and enjoyed watching everyone dance around. He didn’t care that it would jeopardize the presentation and cause panic, his only moral rule was to do what he felt needed to be done. Afterward, he stole Algernon not telling a soul the mouse was safe knowing the mouse was the focus of the entire experiment. His standard of morality was to do what whatever he wanted and didn’t find it to be immoral. After his confrontation with Nemur, Gordon himself stated “ I was seeing myself as I really had become… I was an arrogant, self-centered bastard (261 Keyes)”. When confronted with another ethical decision of either consulting with the professors on being a part of the research team or going directly to contact the foundation, he chose to go over the professor’s heads. He went for the choice that was at his own preference; speaking directly to the foundation. Gordon had no consideration of what opinions or feelings the professors would have on the subject matter. Even if it had taken them years of research to come up with such experiment to Charlie, it seemed like the right thing to do. Gordon felt he had greatly surpassed his peers and felt “they only held him back.”