Category: Flowers For Algernon

In Daniel Keyes novel Flowers for Algernon, Charlie, a 32-year-old intellectually disabled man, undergoes a newly researched surgical procedure that turns him into a genius. Being intellectually disabled means having severe limitations when it comes to mental and cognitive capabilities. Many with this disability have an incredibly troublesome time adjusting to life, and generally, have…

 The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.- Albert Einstein. The extremely controversial topic of weather measurements of intelligence are precise or accurate is still greatly debated today. Researchers have suggested a variety of theories that display and explain the complexion of intelligence and some theories have emerged and become major in our…

Nonetheless, Keyes stresses another predominant theme: that self-awareness, the ability to acquire knowledge about ones self, ultimately decides an individuals identity. As the experiment progresses and Charlies academic knowledge, and personal understanding increase, a sense of inner confinement emerges. This interior conflict is apparent when there is a sharp switch in perception as the narration…

The short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys follows the journey of mentally disabled, thirty seven year old factory janitor Charlie Gordon and his quest for intelligence through his diary entries. When Charlies adult night school teacher recommends him for a scientific study designed to triple human intelligence, Charlie is finally given the chance…

Introduction “Flowers for Algernon,” written by Daniel Keyes, is a thought-provoking novel that explores the ethical implications of intellectual enhancement. The story follows Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who undergoes an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. This essay will delve into the ethical debates surrounding cognitive enhancement and argue that the pursuit of…