Flowers For Algernon: Unheard Cry For Help

Unheard Cry for Help
According to (“Merriam-Webster.com”) the definition of disability is, “a condition (such as an illness or an injury) that damages or limits a person's physical or mental abilities.” In the book Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, a 32 year old man named Charlie Gordon has a severe intellectual disability. He undergoes an experimental operation to become smarter and raise his IQ of 68. After his operation, Charlie begins to realize how impudent the world really treats him because of his intellectual disability. He develops feelings and emotions towards other people. He is also remembering his family past and begins to ponder who they really are and why they would abandon him as a child. Charlie really wants to find his
family but in doing so, he thinks not being aware is better than knowing what might hurt him in the process. But, as time goes on and more experiences are happening to Charlie, he remembers more and more about his family. He remembers that his mom was dismissive of him having a disability and being different. She says as he remembers, “He’s normal! He’s normal! He’ll grow up like other people. Better than others…He’ll go to college someday. He’ll be somebody...I want him to be like everyone else” (Keyes 71-74). Having a disability was very common in this timeframe in which the book was created (1960’s). Why was it so hard for Charlie to fit in then? Because of situations like these, laws and organizations have been put into place to address of to address the poor treatment of people, and to provide the necessary support. As the years went on after Flowers for Algernon, people have been more accepting of disabled individuals. As an outcome, laws were put in place to protect those who are disabled. Flowers for Algernon would be the best book to represent the horrible treatment of people with disabilities like Charlie. When Charlie goes to work he gets made fun of just because he is different and makes mistakes and is taken advantage of for what he is clueless about. No one accepts that he is different until after his operation. Charlie had an experimental operation so he could get smarter. After Charlie had the operation, his co-workers did not believe he got smart at first. One of his co-workers says, “Charlie why waste your time they cant put any branes in where there aint none” (Keyes 26). This is said by Joe Carp, a very important role in Charlie’s life because he is fun of Charlie because of his mental intelligence. The most important reason he got this operation is because he wanted more friends. He is just a man that wanted to be loved by those around him. Even Charlie’s own mother wanted him to be normal. His father had to defend him because he accepted Charlie just for who he is/was. His father, Matt, says, “You're fooling, Rose [Charlie’s mother] it’s not fair to us or to him. Pretending [he’s] normal. Driving him as if he were an animal that could learn to do tricks. Why don’t you leave him alone?” (Keyes 73). This proves how awful Charlie’s mom was to him. She wanted her own son to change just for her needs. Imagine those who love and care, wanting a change just because there is a slight difference in behavior or intellectual state. Meaning, what if someone wanted a change just because of how smart or dumb they are.
After the time period of the novel Flowers for Algernon, there have been laws and rules put into place so those with disabilities are not being discriminated against because of their differences.
Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, also known as ADA, made sure that there is always a place for people to go and that they have an equal place in the world. The ADA was enacted to make sure that people with disabilities can go anywhere and almost do anything. For example, if someone is in a wheelchair and they need to get on a bus, there are platforms on buses for that person to get on the bus with and and would lift the person on the bus. The respect of those who have a disability have changed over the years after the story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes took place. Even now, there are laws and organization to protect those with disabilities so they are treated equal and not considered different. There are 5 sections to the ADA which include Employment, State and Local Government services, Public accommodations, Telecommunications, and other provisions to help. The ADA states, “ The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life...” (2 March 2016). This gives a disabled individual protection on people making fun of them for being different. According to the (“ADA National Network”), “Employers must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees.”(2 March
2016). This means that disabled personel must have positions that will suit their needs so they can get their job done without a lot of difficulty stated in Title I employment section of the ADA.
After rules have been put into place to help those who need it, organizations has been made so that there is a place for disabled individuals to go and have a place to be themselves and be with others going through similar conflicts.
Such organizations are there to help with getting employment, getting therapy, and even house arrangements to even learning to play sports. One organization is called (“Bridges From School to Work”). It was founded in 1989 and is to help to find employment for seniors in high school about to live on their own. According to (“Bridges From School to Work”) “Bridges focuses on abilities, not disabilities—businesses hire people who can do; if the job match is right, an individual’s limitations should be largely irrelevant.” This means that the primary focus for the the person is not their disability but strong strengths and skills that they are able to do in order to find a job that suits their abilities. Another organization that helps the disabled is called Special Olympics. According to the (“Special Olympics Website”), their purpose is to, “...discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment.” This means that the organization is trying to help these people to find abilities that they really enjoy and help them improve on that skill and excel physically and not just mentally. The trainers are looking beyond what the athletes can not do and trying to help them for what their full
potential can bring them.
Because of poor treatment of handicapped individuals, there were laws put in place to protect those who are defenseless. Also organizations were created to help the disabled individuals and help them in the areas needed. These laws and rules allow people to be recognized for their abilities and not to be considered different. This is important because people only look at someone for their difference or disability. People need to look on what is deep inside the heart of that person and see their intentions to their own life and living to the fullest in life.