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Charlie In Daniel Keyes 'Flowers For Algernon'

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“Only dumb people are happy”Courtney Love. In “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, Charlie the central character proves this true. Charlie a troubled soul with an IQ below the norm is given the opportunity to become above the norm. As much as he is excited that he did the operation he realizes the weight of his actions. Before the operation he is childish, ignorant and happy but then the operation occurs he becomes sad, observant, and mature. Though he is partially happy with his choice Charlie becomes emotionally weighed down. Charlie was happy at first before his life turned for the worse, a sad life. Firstly when Charlie found out about the operation he said “im so exited i can hardly rite”. When Charlie was elated beyond words it was more than him being easily amused. Excited and happy, Charlie writes down his new found knowledge.After the operation however Charlie starts to have conflicting feelings “I told her I didn’t like her...that is not true I love her.”Charlie doesn’t know what he is feeling in love, sad, happy, with losing his brain. Losing his cerebral superiority Charlie starts to get confused but first he is sad.The operation changed the word sad into a lifestyle and happy into an …show more content…

Helpless and clueless Charlie doesn’t know any better than not to care which is his way of being ignorant. Charlie, just being himself doesn’t care what others think, but he does not know that he is being clueless.However, after the operation Charlie thought “it was good about finding out that people were laughing at him”. Charlie had an eye-opening experience which was rough but he is glad he had it. Sad but relieved were Charlie’s feelings after he understands the truth. If Charlie made a list about his accomplishments, he would have on his list changing from ignorant to

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