Artificial Intelligence In Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon

Have you ever thought that technology could mean the demise of the human race? Well, artificial intelligence (A.I.) surgery could be the start of that. The science fiction story, “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, there is a mentally retarded man named Charlie. He wants to triple his I.Q. of just 68, and there is a surgery that can do that. He has the surgery performed, and he becomes a genius, but not for long. Charlie’s life severely became worse, because of the A.I. surgery. As a result of having the surgery performed, Charlie became really angry, he regressed early after his progression, and finally he lost all of his friends. Charlie became really angry, because of having the A.I. surgery. Charlie is fun, loving, and a kid at heart until the A.I. surgery was performed. Charlie frightened people with his anger. “Suddenly I was furious at myself and all of those smirking at him,” (Keyes 237). The old charlie could never be furious at anyone. All of these signs show that Charlie was very angry. Charlie regressed really quickly after his progression. Charlie had a small I.Q. of 68. Which made him oblivious to bullying. He didn’t have very good motor skills and memory. Charlie after he became a genius had a fast regression. “There are strong indications of progressive …show more content…
On the other hand, Charlie frightened people with his increased intelligence. “ She looked at me like she was glad to see me but scared,” (Keyes 229). Opponents may also say that he gained new emotions, like love. Although Charlie fell in love, he gained another emotion that outweighed the rest, anger. Charlie was angry all of the time, which drove people away. In the movie “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie traveled to an A.I. conference in Chicago and his anger took over and he released multiple cages of mice on the doctors at the conference. This evidence proves that Charlie was better off before the