An Analysis Of Charlie Gordon's Flowers For Algernon

"Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings," (Dali). All change needs a level of courage, and Charlie Gordon has that. In the short story, "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keys, Charlie Gordon is a thirty seven year old mentally impaired man who has an IQ of sixty eight. He receives the opportunity to have an operation done on him that will triple his IQ, and make it two hundred and four. This will allow Charlie to see the world through the eyes of a genius. Overall, this experiment has more benefits than costs to Charlie's life. To begin with, most people would love to be very intelligent and most people do not get that opportunity. Charlie Gordon did though, he got to finally see the world through a person with a high intelligence
is able to. Throughout the book Charlie was mentioning that he was so happy and excited that he finally was going to see the world differently. He also got to make inferences and understand things he could not before. For example, When he was out to dinner and there was a mentally impaired man working there he stood up for him because he realized why they were laughing at him. Charlie said "Shut up! Leave him alone! It's not his fault he can't understand! He can't help what he is! But for God's sake . . . he's still a human being," (page 530). Charlie never would have realized this before his operation because that man was like Charlie before his operation, he decided to stand up for him and show the people that it is not right to make fun of him just because he is not just like the rest of us. All in all, Charlie Gordon got to see the world differently because of his operation, so there are more advantages to this human engineering project for Charlie Gordon. Next, not everyone is able to experience two different types of intelligences and be able to receive the knowledge people were not born with.
In this short story Charlie got to read so many books and learn so many new things that he could not have done without the operation. There are so many experiences where Charlie Gordon comes across something new and because of the operation, he was able to understand what was going on. Unlike before the operation where Charlie had no idea what was going on even when people were laughing and making fun of him. For instance, in the story Charlie Gordon told Dr. Strauss, who is one of the scientists performing this experiment, "I was too busy thinking and reading. . , he suggested I learn to type. It's much easier to write now because I can type seventy-five words a minute," (Page 528). This shows that Charlie is now getting to experience computers, and different types of books just because of the operation. Before the operation, Charlie Gordon barely knew how to write, his spelling was really bad, and he did not know how to type, but since he did get the operation done, he is able to know so much more and he has the privilege to understand a lot more now. Overall, Charlie Gordon got to read many new books, learn how to type, and learn a very advanced vocabulary because of this human engineering experiment, and that is why there are more benefits about this experiment for Charlie
Gordon. Finally, some people dream of finding that one special person whom they can fall in love with. In this story Charlie got the chance to experience that because of this operation. After his operation he got to spend time with his night school teacher, Miss Kinnian and one he he realized that he loves her, and wants to stay with her forever. Charlie said "The thoughts of leaving her behind made me sad. I'm in love with Miss Kinnian," (Page 527) This shows that Charlie understands love and affection for another person. Even though he did not actually love his friends he still got a chance to be friends with them and take care of them. Without the operation he would not have been able to meet some of the people he did, and he would not have been able to realize that he loves Miss Kinnian. Furthermore, Everyone who has good friends or a significant other knows the feeling someone gets when they are with those people because they comfort them. Without the operation Charlie would not be able to experience such feelings and benefits. To sum it all up, Charlie Gordon was not able to experience these feelings for long but he was able to see the world differently, read and learn new things, and experience real emotions and feelings for people he truly cares about. Charlie was very lucky that he was able to do this experiment, most people do not even imagine this opportunity he received. This is why Charlie's human engineering project has more pros than cons. Most people would agree that it they would rather live their life happy and loved than to be intelligent, and alone.