“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” ( Einstein ) This greatly applies to the story, “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes which is about a young man named Charlie Gordon who unfortunately has a low intelligence level. Just like the quote, Charlie had the ability all this time to become very smart with an IQ of over 200 after a neurosurgery. Later on the story, Charlie’s operation backfires putting his IQ back down to sixty-eight. Although the result of the intelligence was not as good, the amount of things that went right after and during the operation exceeded the costs.
To start off, people with lower IQs usually have to live their entire life with the same IQ and outlook on the world. Charlie also spent most of his life …show more content…
Before the surgery, had a few friends. For example, when Charlie had his job at the factory before the surgery his ‘friends’ like, “Joe Carp said, “Hey look where Charlie had his operation, what did they do put some brains in?” Then Frank Reilly said, “What did you do Charlie, forget your key and had to open your door the hard way.” Then Charlie responds to this like, “They are really my friends and they like me.” (Pg 520) This shows how unaware Charlie was at the time, and how his ‘friends’ were treating him. Later Charlie’s great intelligence decreases, he ends up getting his job back at the factory. When he gets back at the factory, he is greeted by a man who was hired while he was away who said, “Hey Charlie, I hear you are a very smart fella a quiz kid. Say something intelligent.”Joe Carp came over and grabbed him by the shirt and said, “Leave him alone you lousy cracker or I’ll break your neck.” (Pg 536) People like his boss, or his work-mates, or even his landlord came over to help him and care for him as they never did before. This is another positive effect after his neurosurgery which is gaining
To start off, people with lower IQs usually have to live their entire life with the same IQ and outlook on the world. Charlie also spent most of his life …show more content…
Before the surgery, had a few friends. For example, when Charlie had his job at the factory before the surgery his ‘friends’ like, “Joe Carp said, “Hey look where Charlie had his operation, what did they do put some brains in?” Then Frank Reilly said, “What did you do Charlie, forget your key and had to open your door the hard way.” Then Charlie responds to this like, “They are really my friends and they like me.” (Pg 520) This shows how unaware Charlie was at the time, and how his ‘friends’ were treating him. Later Charlie’s great intelligence decreases, he ends up getting his job back at the factory. When he gets back at the factory, he is greeted by a man who was hired while he was away who said, “Hey Charlie, I hear you are a very smart fella a quiz kid. Say something intelligent.”Joe Carp came over and grabbed him by the shirt and said, “Leave him alone you lousy cracker or I’ll break your neck.” (Pg 536) People like his boss, or his work-mates, or even his landlord came over to help him and care for him as they never did before. This is another positive effect after his neurosurgery which is gaining