Our Actions and Their Consequences
Have you ever wanted to change yourself? You may want to rethink that. During the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, Charlie undergoes a experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. The story is a collection of all of Charlie’s progress reports from before to after his surgery. He continually writes better and with more intellect, and then he begins to decline. He gets amnesia and other terrible symptoms, such as depression, and eventually returns to his prior unintelligent state that he was in before the surgery took place. Charlie should not have gotten the surgery because he is happy before the surgery, lonely during his intelligence, and he is deprived of love during his deterioration. …show more content…
Reilly said, “What did you do Charlie forget your key and open your door the hard way. That made me laff. Their really my friends and they like me [sic],” (Keyes 6). This means that Charlie did not understand that his friends were making fun of him. Not only did he not understand the teasing, but he thought “their really my friends”. This suggests that Charlie does not understand the hatred and mean people before his surgery. This is a good thing. It is best described by a famous English scholar Thomas Gray, he once said, “ignorance is bliss” (Gray) in his Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College. This applies directly to Charlie. What he does not know cannot hurt him. If Charlie does not understand the teasing and enjoys the company, it can not hurt him. Simply imagine a hurt free life. The company of his coworkers only benefited …show more content…
During a dinner with his teacher Miss Kinnian, Charlie was thinking,“The thought of leaving her behind made me sad. I’m in love with Miss Kinnian” (Keyes 15). This means that Charlie discovered that he has feelings for Miss Kinnian. He even went as far as to say he is “in love” which is a very serious thing to say. This is important because experiencing love is a very important part of life. Many would say it is the goal of life. If he did not get the surgery, he would not have had experience what is described as the goal of life. However, the only thing that makes even love not worth the surgery, is heartbreak. During Charlie’s deterioration, his heart breaks as “Miss Kinnian came to the door but I said go away I don’t want to see you. She cried and I cried too but I wouldn't let her in... I told her I didn't like her any more. I told her I didn't want to be smart any more. Thats not true [sic]” (Keyes 26). This means that Charlie still loves Miss Kinnian, but his deterioration is preventing him from being with her. He even admitted to himself that he lied saying “Thats not true [sic]”. Even though Charlie had those few moments of glory with Miss Kinnian, it all transferred to sadness. His few moments of love simply do not make up for the feeling of loss it left. He finally got to experience something so amazing, and then it was ripped away from him. Charlie’s love was
Have you ever wanted to change yourself? You may want to rethink that. During the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, Charlie undergoes a experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. The story is a collection of all of Charlie’s progress reports from before to after his surgery. He continually writes better and with more intellect, and then he begins to decline. He gets amnesia and other terrible symptoms, such as depression, and eventually returns to his prior unintelligent state that he was in before the surgery took place. Charlie should not have gotten the surgery because he is happy before the surgery, lonely during his intelligence, and he is deprived of love during his deterioration. …show more content…
Reilly said, “What did you do Charlie forget your key and open your door the hard way. That made me laff. Their really my friends and they like me [sic],” (Keyes 6). This means that Charlie did not understand that his friends were making fun of him. Not only did he not understand the teasing, but he thought “their really my friends”. This suggests that Charlie does not understand the hatred and mean people before his surgery. This is a good thing. It is best described by a famous English scholar Thomas Gray, he once said, “ignorance is bliss” (Gray) in his Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College. This applies directly to Charlie. What he does not know cannot hurt him. If Charlie does not understand the teasing and enjoys the company, it can not hurt him. Simply imagine a hurt free life. The company of his coworkers only benefited …show more content…
During a dinner with his teacher Miss Kinnian, Charlie was thinking,“The thought of leaving her behind made me sad. I’m in love with Miss Kinnian” (Keyes 15). This means that Charlie discovered that he has feelings for Miss Kinnian. He even went as far as to say he is “in love” which is a very serious thing to say. This is important because experiencing love is a very important part of life. Many would say it is the goal of life. If he did not get the surgery, he would not have had experience what is described as the goal of life. However, the only thing that makes even love not worth the surgery, is heartbreak. During Charlie’s deterioration, his heart breaks as “Miss Kinnian came to the door but I said go away I don’t want to see you. She cried and I cried too but I wouldn't let her in... I told her I didn't like her any more. I told her I didn't want to be smart any more. Thats not true [sic]” (Keyes 26). This means that Charlie still loves Miss Kinnian, but his deterioration is preventing him from being with her. He even admitted to himself that he lied saying “Thats not true [sic]”. Even though Charlie had those few moments of glory with Miss Kinnian, it all transferred to sadness. His few moments of love simply do not make up for the feeling of loss it left. He finally got to experience something so amazing, and then it was ripped away from him. Charlie’s love was