Have you ever wondered what it would be like making yourself smarter and/or increase your ability to learn? In the story “Flowers for Algernon”, a 37 year old man named Charlie Gordon wasn’t the smartest person in the world but, he was able to function and maintain a job. Charlie had an I.Q. of 68 before being approached by Dr.Nemur and Dr.Strauss. They wanted him undergo a surgery that would triple his I.Q. Charlie had the surgery and became, at one point, the smartest man in the world with an I.Q. approaching 210. After this he began to lose the intelligence, knowledge, and emotions he just recently gained. This begs the question, should Charlie have had the surgery. Charlie, in most minds, was right for having the surgery, it not only gave him genius level intelligence, but allowed him to make great leaps in science and technology.
Charlie is one of the main characters in “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” by Rod Serling. In the story there 's a science and superstition involved. There 's fears in people 's eyes. Their knowledge of superstition, and their imagination is ruining their lives. The people on Maple Street heard the sound of the roar and the flash of light, and they freaked out. They wonder what caused it. Some people assume it’s probably just a meteor, but some thought it’s an alien or some sort of dangerous creature. There were many great characters throughout the story. However, Charlie stood out the most because he keeps blaming people. Although many people were great characters, Charlie stand out the most because he was
In “Flowers for Algernon,” Daniel Keyes wrote that Charlie Gordon has an IQ of 68, and is in Mrs. Kinnian’s night class for slow adults. Charlie may be dumb, but he was so happy before the surgery and he had a job and “friends.” The reason that Charlie Gordon was better off before the surgery is because he had the motivation to become smart, and after the surgery he becomes depressed and realizes that the world plus the people in it are cruel.
Ultimately, his repressed memories of sexual abuse subconsciously played a role in his relationships and who he became as an individual. In fact, upon this realization Charlie decides he no longer needs to write to the mysterious stranger; believing he has control over his own life and that he is not defined by his past. For example, Charlie said “I keep quiet most of the time, and only one kid named Sean seemed to notice me” (Chbosky 7). In conclusion, there are perks if you prefer to not be the center of attention and the drawbacks as you maybe a target for bullies and miss out on opportunities, of being a
Entering a rocket, risking life, exhilarating adventures waiting. Travelling to the moon, to the endless possibilities in outer space, just like what 37 year old Charlie Gordon feels in the science fiction short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. He has a surgery, risking his life. There are highs and lows waiting for him the minute the surgery is complete. The operation is meant to increase his intelligence and with intelligence he can touch the sky. With education, there are endless possibilities. In the story, Charlie does not know how to read, write, or spell. After his surgery, he meets
“Those who use others are stupid but those who are used are even more stupid” (Internet). Charlie Gordon, the main character in Daniel Keyes’ book, Flowers for Algernon, ended up being in worse condition after undergoing a surgical procedure that was supposed to heighten his intelligence. Furthermore, the scientists unfortunately did not use ethics or take enough care in treating Charlie causing his now worse condition to be their own fault. Their greed led them to abuse and take advantage of Charlie, a very gullible and persuadable because of his low intelligence, and their mistakes led Charlie to his death, the ultimate sacrifice. The choice of using Charlie Gordon in Daniel Keyes’ book, Flowers for Algernon, for an intelligence altering surgery was unethical and biased.
Firstly, while Charlie is suppressed to the lower levels of society, he has the courage to take huge risks which may possibly raise his status greatly in society. There are many instances throughout this story when Charlie was disrespected by others just because he had mental disabilities. For instance, at one point of this story he was asked to take the “Rorschach” (Keyes 5) test, but he just simply couldn’t use any scientific words to
“ I want to be smart and I’ll try real hard”. This is Charlie Grodman he is the main character I will be talking about today. He is from the book “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. I will tell you why he should of had the operation. I think that it was substantial for him to get a taste of being normal.
Charlie should never have had the surgery. Despite the hope that a miracle would save Charlie Gordon from looming regression, in Daniel Keyes, “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie struggled and failed to remember all of the knowledge that he had accumulated. Charlie’s conflict with society, based on his innate lack of cognitive ability, compelled him to learn and find a way to make himself “normal.” Charlie wanted a miracle and he was the repercussions. Doctor Nemur and Doctor Strauss were two eager and ambitious doctors, who recognized Charlie’s vulnerability and used his desperation to recruit him for the experiment. At the pinnacle of Charlie’s ability he understood the shortcomings of the operation
Charlie Gordon should not have had the surgery because of the tragic outcomes. While Daniel Keyes in “Flowers for Algernon” portrayed hope of a mentally impaired man, the procedure failed with overwhelming results. First, Charlie realized that the society had turned against him when he gained the mental capability. Then, both Dr. Namur and Dr. Strauss sacrificed Charlie as a human experiment. Lastly, while Charlie still obtained knowledge, he understood the failure of the surgery. While Charlie was still intelligent, the social part of his life turned against him.
If you had the chance to have an operation for artificial intelligence, would you take it? I think that most people would, especially if they have a lower than average IQ. After reading an excerpt from the book Flowers for Algernon and watching Flowers For Algernon the movie, I believe that Charlie Gordon did the right thing when he got the operation to increase his intelligence. My reasons are that, he would have passed up his chance to finally pursue his dreams, he would have gone his whole life without knowing that the people he thought were his true friends are actually just using him for a good laugh and he would have never learned his true feelings about Ms. Kinnian without the operation.
In some cases, the main characters of two very different books can share many similarities and differences. One example of this was shown in the novels, Of Mice and Men and Flowers for Algernon. In Of Mice and Men, the novel took place during the Great Depression. Lennie, the main character, and his best friend George conquered this toilsome time together. They found work at a farm in California. In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon was a mentally impaired man that wanted nothing else but to be smart. He went through a series of procedures and experiments to become smarter. Both of the main characters in the novels, Of Mice and Men and Flowers for Algernon, contain many similarities and differences within them such as having true friends,
"The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is." -Desiderius Erasmus. In a way, Charlie thought he could reach happiness by becoming intelligent. His eagerness to go through with the operation made Charlie think that he was ready to become who he was
This is a story about a 15 years old boy who was taken under the Wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world. After a rough past a whole new future begins when he meets patrick and sam. Patrick and Sam shows him a whole new perspektiv
There is an important theme in the story Flowers for Algernon By Daniel Keyes. It is a fiction novel about a thirty year old man who has been battling to overcome an intellectual deficit all of his life and has an opportunity to become more intelligent than he ever had imagined through an experimental operation. He takes the opportunity and in a few weeks he becomes a genius for a short time before his itelligence receded as fast as it increased. The author includes many important themes throughout the passage. Daniel Keyes develops the theme that intelligence doesn’t affect who you truly are through Charlie’s experiences both before and after the operation.