This novel received the Nebula Award for Best Novel of the year, which was awarded by the Science Fiction Writers of America. Additionally, it is acknowledged as a work of science fiction. Yet, nowhere in the book does it mention aliens, outer space, or mutated superhumans derived from a science experiment gone wrong. Unlike the typical science fiction story, Daniel Keyes focuses on the impact that science and technology has had on the protagonist, rather than the world. Though this story does not focus on the impact of society, it still fulfills the purpose of science fiction. As Robert Sawyer once said, “[science fiction] is not to predict the future. Rather, it's to suggest all the possible futures—so that society can make informed decisions
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During this time and age, scientists have been experimenting ways to improve one’s intelligence, and have been experimenting on a mouse named Algernon. The first human test subject, Charlie, was chosen by a group of scientists to undergo the same experiment, with the goal of enhancing his intelligence. Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, recommended Charlie for the experiment due to his exceptional eagerness to learn. The experiment expanded Charlie’s mental capacity, and was deemed a success. With help from Alice, Charlie’s grammar and reading skills significantly improved. He began to accumulate knowledge in many academic fields by absorbing information and insights from adult books. However, nothing in life, even in storybooks, is too good to be true. Charlie finds an error in the surgery’s procedure, and realize that he might regress to his old self. He attempts to meet with his broken family, but ultimately achieves nothing from doing so. Later in the book, Algernon becomes erratic, and soon eventually dies, which foreshadows Charlie’s fate. He manages to figure out what the cause of this is, and discovers that his intelligence will disappear as quickly as it has come. Daniel Keys looks at the psychology of an individual, and gives us a …show more content…
He is about to have a surgery that he was chosen for, because he had a desire to learn, and is going through a series of tests. Charlie is asked to make a story about people based on pictures, but does not proceed with the request. “I said how can I tell storys about pepul I dont know. She said make beleeve but I tolld her thats lies. I never tell lies any more because when I was a kid I made lies and I always got hit.”(Keyes, 4). The opening “progress report” hints the complex relationship between him and his family, as his mother is shown to be supportive and hopeful at times, but acts erratic in others. Further in the book, there are many scenes where Charlie recalls the abuse that his mother caused. In “Progress Report 11”, Charlie explains his newfound love for Alice, and in Progress Report 11, their relationship progresses and begins to be intimate. However, when Charlie begins thinking of sex, he begins to experience trauma. “He tried to be good, he told her, and not look at women, because his mother used to beat him whenever that happened in his pants... Now he had the clear picture of Charlie's mother, screaming at him, holding a leather belt in her hand, and his father trying to hold her back."Enough, Rose! You'll kill him! Leave him alone!" ” (Keys, 70). The abuse for having the slightest sexual impulses when he was just a child inhibited Charlie’s capabilities
During this time and age, scientists have been experimenting ways to improve one’s intelligence, and have been experimenting on a mouse named Algernon. The first human test subject, Charlie, was chosen by a group of scientists to undergo the same experiment, with the goal of enhancing his intelligence. Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, recommended Charlie for the experiment due to his exceptional eagerness to learn. The experiment expanded Charlie’s mental capacity, and was deemed a success. With help from Alice, Charlie’s grammar and reading skills significantly improved. He began to accumulate knowledge in many academic fields by absorbing information and insights from adult books. However, nothing in life, even in storybooks, is too good to be true. Charlie finds an error in the surgery’s procedure, and realize that he might regress to his old self. He attempts to meet with his broken family, but ultimately achieves nothing from doing so. Later in the book, Algernon becomes erratic, and soon eventually dies, which foreshadows Charlie’s fate. He manages to figure out what the cause of this is, and discovers that his intelligence will disappear as quickly as it has come. Daniel Keys looks at the psychology of an individual, and gives us a …show more content…
He is about to have a surgery that he was chosen for, because he had a desire to learn, and is going through a series of tests. Charlie is asked to make a story about people based on pictures, but does not proceed with the request. “I said how can I tell storys about pepul I dont know. She said make beleeve but I tolld her thats lies. I never tell lies any more because when I was a kid I made lies and I always got hit.”(Keyes, 4). The opening “progress report” hints the complex relationship between him and his family, as his mother is shown to be supportive and hopeful at times, but acts erratic in others. Further in the book, there are many scenes where Charlie recalls the abuse that his mother caused. In “Progress Report 11”, Charlie explains his newfound love for Alice, and in Progress Report 11, their relationship progresses and begins to be intimate. However, when Charlie begins thinking of sex, he begins to experience trauma. “He tried to be good, he told her, and not look at women, because his mother used to beat him whenever that happened in his pants... Now he had the clear picture of Charlie's mother, screaming at him, holding a leather belt in her hand, and his father trying to hold her back."Enough, Rose! You'll kill him! Leave him alone!" ” (Keys, 70). The abuse for having the slightest sexual impulses when he was just a child inhibited Charlie’s capabilities