Nature is a powerful force. According the Erik Erikson, the stages of life “is set by nature”, and that there are eight stages of human development (Erikson). The main character in the book “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, is a 33 year old adult named Charlie. For majority of Charlie’s life, Charlie had an IQ of 68 making him an easy target for bullies and manipulators. However, Charlie encountered an opportunity for a chance to increase his intelligence. After a copious amount of research and testing, Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur, from the Welberg Foundation, performed an operation to increase Charlie’s intelligence. With his new increase in intelligence, there comes a change in his emotional development too. This change leads to Charlie experiencing some of the
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However, it can be inferred that Charlie will most likely have a positive outcome now that the old “Charlie has stopped watching” him (Keyes 211). When Charlie first experienced love, “sexual situations reveal that emotionally [he’s] still an adolescents-sexually retarded” (Keyes 102). The negative effects of love on Charlie at the beginning, such as panic and hallucinations, would overwhelm him because his mind cannot fully adapt to the intimacy level of an adult. However, as the story progresses, the emotional well-being of Charlie begins to take shape and Charlie is becoming more capable of forming relationships with his partners. Because of this, Charlie might be able have a relationship with Alice like he always wanted to since the operation. Additionally, if he is becoming more emotionally advanced, he will be able to fit in the norms of society and be more normal. The whole goal of the operation was to make Charlie smarter and fit in with other people, and the positive outcome of this stage will finally allow Charlie to do
However, it can be inferred that Charlie will most likely have a positive outcome now that the old “Charlie has stopped watching” him (Keyes 211). When Charlie first experienced love, “sexual situations reveal that emotionally [he’s] still an adolescents-sexually retarded” (Keyes 102). The negative effects of love on Charlie at the beginning, such as panic and hallucinations, would overwhelm him because his mind cannot fully adapt to the intimacy level of an adult. However, as the story progresses, the emotional well-being of Charlie begins to take shape and Charlie is becoming more capable of forming relationships with his partners. Because of this, Charlie might be able have a relationship with Alice like he always wanted to since the operation. Additionally, if he is becoming more emotionally advanced, he will be able to fit in the norms of society and be more normal. The whole goal of the operation was to make Charlie smarter and fit in with other people, and the positive outcome of this stage will finally allow Charlie to do