Would people be happier if they were smarter? Would the world – inhabited by intellectually superior beings – be a better place? The short story Flowers for Algernon, later enlarged into a book, somewhat addresses these questions. Charlie Gordon, who has an I.Q of 68, works as janitor in a factory. He doesn’t realize he is made a butt of jokes by people he considers his friends. Determined to be smart like them, he attends a school for the mentally challenged and there gains the sympathy of Miss Kinian, his teacher. Because of his determination, he is selected by two scientists, Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur who are
experimenting with a theory on how to
increase human intelligence as their next guinea pig. Earlier, they have operated on Algernon, a mouse whose brain has been successfully altered as to have the I.Q. of an intelligent human being. Charlie goes under the knife and while recovering, is told to keep a journal of what is happening around him. The reader follows Charlie’s development through his journal - the story being told in his own words, proceeding from the recollections of a
dimwit to improving grammar and signs of an awakening intelligence. Charlie's I.Q. develops from that of a dimwit to a brilliant thinker far superior to the scientists who are experimenting on him. He experiences love as he falls for Miss Kinian. But with his newfound
intelligence he finds himself almost unable to communicate with ordinary people. He becomes alienated, ostracized, even feared. His co-workers except an old friend petitions the management to remove him from the factory. He realizes, painfully, that his “friends” are not really what he has always thought them to be. Algernon exhibits symptoms of irritability and receding intellect. Algernon dies - a sign the experiment may have been a failure, even fatal, to the subjects. Remembering that he was once of low intelligence, Charlie pours his energy into the research with a view to helping people like what he used to be. Finally, he submits his findings to Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur: he concludes that the sudden outburst of intellect as a result of the
operation is only temporary – that he would die like Algernon. Gradually he lapses into average then into subnormal intelligence. He returns to his former work at the factory, and cannot understand why the people there act funny towards him, ridden with guilt. Charlie decides to go away, reminding those left behind to place a flower in Algernon’s grave.
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