Charlie Gordon's Life In Flowers For Algernon By Daniel Keyes
Many people say life is measured by the ability of ability of a person to experience all life has to offer. In the novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Charlie Gordon’s life was routine and lacked fulfillment, which makes his decision to undergo surgery to increase his intelligence justified. Charlie was given the opportunity to experience decision making on his own, he was able to experience love, as well as experience intellectual achievements.
To begin with, due to the operation Charlie was finally able to experience decision making on his own. Throughout Charlie’s life prior to the operation, other people had always made decisions for him for instance “They found my sister Norma…she gave permissen for the operashun”(9) this passage show’s that despite Charlie’s chronological age, he was not given the chance to …show more content…
make a decision on his own. Although, after a conflict arises at the bakery where Charlie works about stealing and what he should do, he seeks help from Alice Kinnian. She then tells him “I can’t decide for you, Charlie…You’ve got the answer inside of you – feel the right this to do. Charlie, you’ve got to trust yourself”(91). He then learns he must trust himself and that he is capable of making decisions on his own, which is a valued skill not all posses. Truly, this proves justification for decision of having the surgery.
Additionally, the surgery Charlie underwent through his opportunity to experience new love.
This experience is something that many people take for granted, however for Charlie it was a life altering experience “I loved her with more than my body…this time it was more than sex, more than using a woman’s body… I was lifted outside the dark cell of my mind… It was the first step outward to the universe” (293). Although Charlie did not understand what he was feeling, the experience changed his outlook on sex, which prior to his sexual encounter with Alice Kinnian he thought of it as something used only for sexual purposes. Thusly, the justification for Charlie having the surgery is proven by his experience of love.
Similarly, the surgery is justified by Charlie being able to experience superior intelligence. Throughout the novel the reader learns, intelligence is something Charlie longs for. Once Charlie discovers a flaw in the research surrounding the experiment, he works tirelessly to figgure out how he will deteriorate. “The solution came to me, just I was dosing off. Illuminated! Everything fits together” (253) this quotation
shows
To begin with, due to the operation Charlie was finally able to experience decision making on his own. Throughout Charlie’s life prior to the operation, other people had always made decisions for him for instance “They found my sister Norma…she gave permissen for the operashun”(9) this passage show’s that despite Charlie’s chronological age, he was not given the chance to …show more content…
make a decision on his own. Although, after a conflict arises at the bakery where Charlie works about stealing and what he should do, he seeks help from Alice Kinnian. She then tells him “I can’t decide for you, Charlie…You’ve got the answer inside of you – feel the right this to do. Charlie, you’ve got to trust yourself”(91). He then learns he must trust himself and that he is capable of making decisions on his own, which is a valued skill not all posses. Truly, this proves justification for decision of having the surgery.
Additionally, the surgery Charlie underwent through his opportunity to experience new love.
This experience is something that many people take for granted, however for Charlie it was a life altering experience “I loved her with more than my body…this time it was more than sex, more than using a woman’s body… I was lifted outside the dark cell of my mind… It was the first step outward to the universe” (293). Although Charlie did not understand what he was feeling, the experience changed his outlook on sex, which prior to his sexual encounter with Alice Kinnian he thought of it as something used only for sexual purposes. Thusly, the justification for Charlie having the surgery is proven by his experience of love.
Similarly, the surgery is justified by Charlie being able to experience superior intelligence. Throughout the novel the reader learns, intelligence is something Charlie longs for. Once Charlie discovers a flaw in the research surrounding the experiment, he works tirelessly to figgure out how he will deteriorate. “The solution came to me, just I was dosing off. Illuminated! Everything fits together” (253) this quotation
shows