Flowers For Algernon Essay
Kaitlin Peterson
February 10, 2013
Language Arts, Period 4
“Flowers for Algernon” Essay
What if you wanted to be happier? What if you thought you could receive happiness from intelligence? Ah, now what if you got the chance to have a surgery which would triple your intelligence quotient (I.Q.)? Charlie Gordon, a man of 37, had an I.Q. of 68 in the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. Two doctors gave Charlie the chance to have that surgery and he took it. Charlie thought his happiness would increase with his intellect, but he was wrong. Happiness does not vary with intelligence. Before the operation, Charlie was happy with his life, but he wanted to be smarter like other people. “I hope they use me [for the operation]… I want to be smart.” Charlie had a good life, and even had two friends, Joe Carp and Frank Reilly. Charlie says in the beginning of the story, “Their really my frends and they like me.” His childish innocents made him oblivious to the harmful and mean world around him. Charlie just didn’t realize that he wouldn’t become happier than he already was. After the operation, Charlie didn’t show any significant changes, until he beat Algernon, a lab mouse who had received the same surgery, in a maze race. After that, he started to show changes in his grammar, punctuation, and eventually he started to know larger words and other languages. After all he learned, Charlie’s happiness did not rise as his I.Q. did. Charlie started to become lonely and stayed in his room most of his days. Charlie states, “No matter what I try to discuss with her [Miss Kinnian], I am unable to communicate.” Not before long, Charlie realizes that his “friends” aren’t really his friends. The harsh reality that Joe and Frank were making fun and teasing Charlie really hurt him. He began to feel ashamed of himself and who he used to be. It doesn’t take long for Charlie to reach his peak of intelligence at an I.Q. of 204. But he only stays that way for a short time.
February 10, 2013
Language Arts, Period 4
“Flowers for Algernon” Essay
What if you wanted to be happier? What if you thought you could receive happiness from intelligence? Ah, now what if you got the chance to have a surgery which would triple your intelligence quotient (I.Q.)? Charlie Gordon, a man of 37, had an I.Q. of 68 in the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. Two doctors gave Charlie the chance to have that surgery and he took it. Charlie thought his happiness would increase with his intellect, but he was wrong. Happiness does not vary with intelligence. Before the operation, Charlie was happy with his life, but he wanted to be smarter like other people. “I hope they use me [for the operation]… I want to be smart.” Charlie had a good life, and even had two friends, Joe Carp and Frank Reilly. Charlie says in the beginning of the story, “Their really my frends and they like me.” His childish innocents made him oblivious to the harmful and mean world around him. Charlie just didn’t realize that he wouldn’t become happier than he already was. After the operation, Charlie didn’t show any significant changes, until he beat Algernon, a lab mouse who had received the same surgery, in a maze race. After that, he started to show changes in his grammar, punctuation, and eventually he started to know larger words and other languages. After all he learned, Charlie’s happiness did not rise as his I.Q. did. Charlie started to become lonely and stayed in his room most of his days. Charlie states, “No matter what I try to discuss with her [Miss Kinnian], I am unable to communicate.” Not before long, Charlie realizes that his “friends” aren’t really his friends. The harsh reality that Joe and Frank were making fun and teasing Charlie really hurt him. He began to feel ashamed of himself and who he used to be. It doesn’t take long for Charlie to reach his peak of intelligence at an I.Q. of 204. But he only stays that way for a short time.