Ethical Issues In Flowers For Algernon

Flowers for Algernon is a science fiction short story written by Daniel Keyes. The story is about Charlie Gordon, a man with an IQ of 68 who has to go through an operation that will triple his IQ. Charlie does not stay at an IQ of 204 for very long before he starts to regress back to his near mentally retarded self. The story also makes the reader think twice about if it is ethical to enhance human intellect and intelligence by medical procedures. Although the operation done on Charlie was not a success, it still improved Charlie’s life for the better. The operation gave him a stronger EQ as well as a much more positive mindset and goal in life. He was also given an option to take the surgery, by Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss. That is why the surgery used to triple Charlie’s IQ is ethical.

“204” Charlie sees everything in a new light. Even when his intelligence decreases, he will still know how it feels to be both, a genius and a slow learner. The

Everyone was looking at me and laughing and I felt naked. I wanted to hide myself. I ran out into the street and I threw up. Then I walked home. It's a funny thing I never knew that Joe and Frank and the others liked to have me around all the time to make fun of me. Now I know what it means when they say to pull a Charlie Gordon. I'm ashamed.” Charlie finally realizes that the only reason Joe and Frank like to have him around is because they like to laugh at him. “68” Charlie would have never figured that out by himself. The operation boosted his intelligence but it also helped his EQ grow. EQ usually depends on how many situations or experiences you had, and with Charlie having a much better thought process, he now has a better ability to clearly analyse what is happening in these kind of situation. So although his IQ of 204 isn’t permanent, it is still really good that his EQ became