Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast

Social Indifferences Society has always created stereotype towards people who are different either mentally or physically. Most people with physical and mental disabilities are mo different then the norm. The short story " Arrangement In Black and White", by Dorothy Parker, can be compared and contrasted to the novel Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keyes. Both the novel and the short story can be compared in terms of characterization. Walter Williams, the main character of the short story, and Charlie Gordon, the main character of the novel can be compared to each other because they share similar roles in the society, and are mistreated due to their differences.
The themes of these written works can also be compared. The themes in each of these writings share a similar which is how today's society creates stereotypes. The novel and short story can be contrasted in terms of conflict. In the novel, the conflict is person versus self. Charlie has to face his past when he has flashbacks of himself as a young boy. However in the short story the conflict is person versus person. Although " Arrangement in Black and White" and Flowers For Algernon are similar in characterization and theme, they are different in terms of conflict. Both works of literature can be compared in terms of characterization. Walter Williams, the main character in " Arrangement In Black and White", is compared to Charlie Gordon the main character of the novel.
They are both treated as unfairly in their societies. In the short story, a dinner party is held for Walter so he can be introduced to his white fans. The white society does not treat him with the proper respect because he is black and not equal to their standards. Therefore, they held a party for him so he would feel accepted. " ‘Well I think your simply marvellous, giving this perfectly marvellous party for him, and having him met all these white people, and all. Isn't he terribly grateful' " (Parker 1). Walter attends this party so the white people of his community will not see him as inhuman because he does not look and act like the white people. In the novel, Flowers For Algernon, the main character, Charlie Gordon, is mistreated because he is mentally challenged. Charlie is given the chance for a new life with an experiment that will turn him into a genius. During his life, he is not treated as a human, but as an experiment and nothing more. " I had never known that my early performances and tests in the laboratory were filmed. There I was, at the end table beside Burt, confused and open-mouthed as I tried to run the maze with the electric stylus. Each time I received a shock, my expression changed to an absurd wide-eyed stare, and then that foolish smile again. Each time it happened the audience roared. Race after race, it was repeated, and each time they found it funnier than before "( Keyed 111).
Charlie is treated unjustly by his society and is turned into a scientific experiment. Both characters are similar because they are faced with prejudice in their society. In addition, both Flowers For Algernon and " Arrangement In Black and White", can be compared in terms of theme. They illustrate the theme of society creating a stereotype towards those who are different. In the novel, Professor Nemur is prejudice towards Charlie because he lacks intelligence.
His role as a professor seemed to have taken Charlie's life to an extreme. Although the experiment is successful, Professor Nemur did not consider Charlie's true feelings and emotions. " It may sound like ingratitude, but that is one of the things I resent here- the attitude that I am a guinea pig. Nenur's constant references to having made me what I am, or that someday there will be others like me who will become real human beings" ( Keyes 101). Professor Nemur is solely concerned about his experiment and not about Charlie's well being. He does not consider Charlie a real person, because of his mental deficiencies. Charlie will only be considered a real person if he becomes as smart as Professor Nemer is. In he short story the women tries to hide her feelings towards black people. She pretends that her husband is the prejudice one, but in actuality she is. She feels that black people are inferior to white people and should be treated like animals. "‘I haven't any feeling at all because he's a coloured man. I felt as natural as I would with anybody. Talked to him as naturally, and everything. But honestly , I could hardly keep a straight face. I kept thinking of Burton. Oh, wait till I tell Burton I called him ‘Mister'"? (Parker 3) . The woman is referring to herself and how she cannot believe that she called the black man mister. Both the short story and the novel show how stereotypes are created by society
against people who are different. However, both writings can be contrasted in terms of conflict. In the novel, the main character has conflict with himself, in the short story, the lady faces conflict with society. After Charlie has his operation, although he becomes very intelligent his emotions are not yet developed. He begins to have flashbacks of his past self whenever he becomes nervous or has sexual encounters with Alice. He is unable to correct this problem even though he is a genius. He has to fend off his feelings whenever they occur. "Charlie might not interfere if I wanted to make love to Fay. He would probably just stand in the doorway and watch. But the moment I came close to Alice, he panicked. Why was he afraid to let me love Alice? " (Keyes 141). In the short story, the woman has conflict between herself and the black people in her society. She cannot accept black people because they do not look and act like her. She cannot accept the fact that they are like her and are as human as white people. "You know, so many coloured people, you give them an inch and they walk all over you" (Parker 3). Both of the stories have a main conflict; however, they can be contrasted based on their differences The novel Flowers For Algernon and the short story " Arrangement In Black And White" can be compared in terms characterization and theme, and contrasted by using conflict. The element of characterization can be compared to show similarities between Charlie Gordon and Walter Williams. The characteristic of theme also compare the stereotype that society has against people who are not equal. The two writings can be contrasted in terms of conflict. Many people create stereotypes in our society because others are physically or intellectually different.