The Test That Changed Charlie Gordon In Flower For Algernon

In this novel, Flowers for Algernon, written by Daniel Keyes, a man named Charlie Gordon has an operation done to increase his intelligence. He started as a mentally retarded man and slowly became a genius. He seemed to soak up information like a sponge and he was able to figure out the most complex scientific formulas. The only problem with the operation is that it does not last for ever and in his remaining time he tries to figure out why it is not permanent. He will eventually lose everything he learned and become worse off than when he started, so Charlie was better off before he had the operation.

To begin, one of the biggest reasons that Charlie would’ve been better off having never gotten the surgery is so he wouldn’t have to deal with knowing what great intelligence is like, but then having to go back to being naïve and dumb again. In the story Flowers for Algernon, Keyes says, “I learned so much so fast. Now my mind is deteriorating rapidly. I won’t let it happen. I’ll fight it. I can’t help thinking of the boy in the restaurant, the blank expression, the silly smile, the people laughing at him. No- please- not that again…” (303) This shows that Charlie realizes his mental capabilities are deteriorating and

In the novel, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, it is focused around the ironically unforgettable journey of Charlie Gordon. He is a 32 year old man who has an extremely low IQ, that qualified him to be a subject for an experimental surgery to help him raise his IQ, by a lot. Before the surgery, he had very little memories of his childhood, was very forgetful, and his inability to read or write made his want for knowledge even stronger. I picked this character because not only was he the main focus throughout the book, he has changed and has not changed at the same time and I found that rather unusual.Charlie has changed because after the surgery he got what he wanted, to be smart. But by the end of the book he lost his intelligence, along

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” - Harriet Tubman. Charlie Gordon is a very welcoming, playful, and genuine man. He attends Beekman College for Retarded Adults and has a strong motivation to learn and to improve his intelligence. He dreams of being popular, and making friends. Throughout the novel Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon changed in many ways. Prior to his life changing operation, he was not able to grasp that the people at Donner’s Bakery were not his friends, they only spoke to him to make fun of him. Charlie acknowledged their harsh actions, and started retaliating. Charlie is a very open

In the novel Flowers for Algernon , by Daniel Keyes, A 37 year old man, named Charlie Gordon, has a below average IQ and undergoes an experiment to increase his intelligence. After taking part in the experiment, Charlie’s intellect gradually increases until he is a genius. Charlie, slowly matures mentally and starts to really live and fully experience his adulthood. However, near the end of the story, his IQ decreases right back to where he started. The experiment enabled Charlie to understand his past, see the world as it is and feel complex emotions. Participating in the experiment gave Charlie the ability to really feel and understand himself and the world, it was definitely worth it.

When Charlie was intelligent he often got irritated at the doctors because they weren’t as smart as him. He had also dealt with a lot of emotion with Miss Kinnian, Charlie was in love with Miss Kinnian. When he regressed, he was embarrassed to see her because he thought she would think he was dumb. When Charlie was at a diner, he saw a kid with disabilities, and everyone was laughing at him and so was Charlie. He was upset with himself that he laughed at him because that kid was him before he had the surgery to make him smart.

Charlie should have chosen to have had the operation because he got to achieve his ultimate dream, he got to form new relationships, and he was able to contribute new information to others; One argument that can be made for why it was beneficial for Charlie to have the surgery is because he got to live out his dream. Prior to having the IQ increasing procedure done to him, Charlie, was an optimistic and good-hearted man. Unfortunately for Charlie though he was disabled and had a low IQ, this caused Charlie to dream of becoming smart and fit in with others. One quote that can support the claim that Charlie got to achieve his dream of becoming smart is, “Im glad I got a second chanse to be smart becaus I lerned alot of things that I never new were in this world and Im grateful that I saw it all for a littel bit (245).

People now days treat others with disrespect and look down upon on other who are mentally challenged, and this is not right. In the story “ Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, Charlie gets the opportunity to get an operation that could potentially make him smarter. The bad news is it could have side effects and he could lose everything he has learned from the operation and it not work. I believe in this story Charlie should have gotten the operation.

Do we question doctors enough? People seem to trust their doctors, and never question them. In the book Flowers For Algernon, Charlie Gordon is a 37 year-old man who has an I.Q of 68. Charlie has an operation done on himself to increase his own intelligence. The question is, did Charlie Gordon's doctors act ethically when they performed the surgery to make him smarter.

Another reason why he should’ve had the surgery is if he didn’t then he would’ve made the scientific discovery. But sadly his research leads to his demise. When Charlie says, “Artificially increase intelligence deteriorates at the rate it directly proportional to the quantity of the increase”. So after he found out the truth about the surgery he didn’t trust the doctors he worked with. The doctors told Charlie the truth about their backgrounds.

When Charlie had a low I.Q., he believed his co-workers at the bakery he worked at were his friends. The novel states, “He was laffing and Joe Carp was laffing but Gimpy came in and told them to get back to making rolls. They are all good frends to me” (Keyes 27). When Charlie told his “friends” that he was going to school, they laughed in his face. When Charlie could not figure out that these people were making fun of him, he was happier and had an easier time communicating with others.

It shows that intelligence doesn’t give you happiness or friends. As Charlie got smarter he became more selfish and more people began to dislike him.

As amazing it might appear that Charles got to become smarter as time goes on, however, we see the negatives far outweigh the positive. Following the operation, Charlie becomes removed from his friends due of the fact that he's not able to converse at a normal and falls into a downward spiral in both psychological and physical health. Some folks could say that the operation was good, since Charlie figures out that Joe Carp and Frank Reilly, two people he believed were his buddies, simply kept him around to laugh at him. But after that experience, Charlie begins to suspect everybody about him and becomes too sensitive- he is pushed by something further. One reason why Charles Gordon shouldn't had the surgery that made increased his intelligence level is because he becomes too smart for his own good. One example of this could be where he's trying to converse with Miss Kinnian. He states he tried to avoid all discussions of intellectual theories and also to maintain the conversation on an easy, regular level, but Miss Kinnian "just stared at [him] blankly and asked [him] what [he] meant about the mathematical variance equivalent in Dorbermann’s Fifth Concerto,” (Keyes 18) This shows that although he's trying to communicate, he's not able to discuss simple subjects. This is very ironic, because the very reason that Charlie needed to undergo

Can you even imagine that you can get a operation and you will be smart. Well in the story flowers for Algernon by Daniel keyes this is what happened to the protagonist Charlie Gordon.charlie was a very unintelligent man, so one day he found out that he could a operation to be smart. He got smart but it was not permanent. He regressed and became unintelligent again.charlie was better after the operation because he learned the truth about his friends and is aware of his surroundings.

Charlie Gordon was the main character in “Flowers For Algernon”. The author Daniel Keyes portrays him as a brave, honest, and outgoing person who tries to get through life while living with his disability of a low IQ. Charlie loves his work at a box factory where he thinks all his friends love him, but really they take advantage of his disability and he will later figure that out while he goes through surgery that ends up tripling his IQ. Charlie Gordon is very persistent and outgoing to go through surgery and want to become as smart as normal people.