Flowers For Algernon Essay

The science fiction novel Flowers for Algernon is narrated with progress reports written by Charlie Gordon. He introduces himself as a mentally disabled 32 year old man working at Donner’s Bakery. His progress reports are used to determine whether or not he will participate in an operation to increase intelligence. The directors of the experiment decide to use Charlie when he completes a series of tests. The surgery proves to be a success and Charlie becomes a genius. After the experiment, Charlie begins to experience many problems caused by his increased intelligence. The book concludes with Charlie writing a report called Algernon-Gordon effect and reverting back to his original intelligence. Charlie wants to be smarter because, “If your

This is supported when he says, “I am just as far away from Alice with an I.Q. of 185 as I was when I had an I.Q. of 70.” (Keyes 126) The quote shows Charlie’s high intelligence does not help him get closer to Alice but instead creates a barrier between them. His superior intelligence makes Alice feel bad and makes her self confidence decrease because she does not understand the topics he likes to discuss. After their conversations, she feels the need to convince herself she is not getting dumber or going senile and that it was actually Charlie’s intelligence increasing. Their difference in intelligence makes Alice miserable and creates a gap between them. When they begin speaking after their first argument, Charlie reveals, “All these months while I’ve been growing intellectually, I’ve still had the emotional wiring of the childlike Charlie. And every time I came close to you, or thought about making love to you, there was a short circuit.” (Keyes 202) Charlie’s rapid intellectual development and lack of emotional development made him feel like there were two different Charlies in is mind, one before and after the operation. His dissociation prevented him from advancing his relationship with Alice because the mentally disabled Charlie would panic whenever Charlie tried to engage in sexual activities with Alice. In conclusion, Charlie’s developing relationship with Alice was hindered by his