In Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, having the surgery to improve his intelligence negatively affected Charlie Gordon. The surgery was temporary, made him lose his job and home, and ruined his relationships. First of all, the surgery is temporary. Immediately after the surgery, there was not much of a drastic increase, but as the story progresses, it becomes evident that Charlie’s intelligence increases at a rapid rate. This sudden increase does come to a halt though as Charlie’s newly gained knowledge disappears as quickly as it arrives. “Now [his] mind is deteriorating rapidly,” and Charlie begins to loathe the day that his intelligence will disappear, so “[he] won’t let it happen. [he’ll] fight it” (Keyes 337). At this state of time,
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Up until the surgery, Charlie had a steady job at Donnegan’s Plastic Box Company. Also, he had an apartment that he could live in, but after the surgery, that all changes. Charlie “quit[s] [his] job with Donnegan’s Plastic Box Company” but not willingly as all of Charlie’s coworkers complain about Charlie and how he is suddenly smart which causes all but one co-worker to sign a petition to get him fired so, “Mr. Donnegan insist[s] that it would be better for all concerned if [he] left,” (328). This forceful quit leaves Charlie without a job. Even though he receives money from the lab to live of off, not having a job is detrimental to Charlie as he then becomes reliant on the lab, so he is not able to provide for himself without it. Also, Charlie has to lose his home too. After Charlie’s intelligence is completely reverted, he has many experiences where people treat him differently as he is not smart. He despises people’s empathy so he decides “[he’s] going away from New York for good. [He] don’t want to feel like that agen” (341). This empathy drives him away from his home, so wherever he ends up going, Charlie is not going to know anyone and will be all alone, which would be very harmful. With no job and home, he has nowhere and nobody, which is already a negative effect of the surgery but could very easily turn into a very big and detrimental effect in the future if he’s not able to take care of himself. …show more content…
At first glance, it appears as if Charlie forms new relationships. After the surgery, Charlie falls “...in love with Miss Kinnian,” after he becomes intelligent enough to realize how beautiful she is (328). Also, Charlie met Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss and eventually was able to discuss and understand more complex ideas with them. The new people he meets, and eventually normally interacts, with could be considered new and flourishing relationships for Charlie, who before had not had real friends. These newly formed relationships are only temporary though as once Charlie’s intelligence is at its peak capacity, all of his relationships start to fall apart. Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss feel inferior compared to Charlie, which makes them resent him. Miss Kinnian, does not understand Charlie anymore, so they have trouble communicating. Also, Charlie’s relationships with his coworkers are destroyed when they drive him out of the factory. Then, once he is completely reverted, everyone feels sorry for him, and he does not have any more relationships were people treat him like a normal person. Overall, while it may seem like Charlie gains relationships, all of his relationships end up being destroyed, which hurt
Up until the surgery, Charlie had a steady job at Donnegan’s Plastic Box Company. Also, he had an apartment that he could live in, but after the surgery, that all changes. Charlie “quit[s] [his] job with Donnegan’s Plastic Box Company” but not willingly as all of Charlie’s coworkers complain about Charlie and how he is suddenly smart which causes all but one co-worker to sign a petition to get him fired so, “Mr. Donnegan insist[s] that it would be better for all concerned if [he] left,” (328). This forceful quit leaves Charlie without a job. Even though he receives money from the lab to live of off, not having a job is detrimental to Charlie as he then becomes reliant on the lab, so he is not able to provide for himself without it. Also, Charlie has to lose his home too. After Charlie’s intelligence is completely reverted, he has many experiences where people treat him differently as he is not smart. He despises people’s empathy so he decides “[he’s] going away from New York for good. [He] don’t want to feel like that agen” (341). This empathy drives him away from his home, so wherever he ends up going, Charlie is not going to know anyone and will be all alone, which would be very harmful. With no job and home, he has nowhere and nobody, which is already a negative effect of the surgery but could very easily turn into a very big and detrimental effect in the future if he’s not able to take care of himself. …show more content…
At first glance, it appears as if Charlie forms new relationships. After the surgery, Charlie falls “...in love with Miss Kinnian,” after he becomes intelligent enough to realize how beautiful she is (328). Also, Charlie met Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss and eventually was able to discuss and understand more complex ideas with them. The new people he meets, and eventually normally interacts, with could be considered new and flourishing relationships for Charlie, who before had not had real friends. These newly formed relationships are only temporary though as once Charlie’s intelligence is at its peak capacity, all of his relationships start to fall apart. Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss feel inferior compared to Charlie, which makes them resent him. Miss Kinnian, does not understand Charlie anymore, so they have trouble communicating. Also, Charlie’s relationships with his coworkers are destroyed when they drive him out of the factory. Then, once he is completely reverted, everyone feels sorry for him, and he does not have any more relationships were people treat him like a normal person. Overall, while it may seem like Charlie gains relationships, all of his relationships end up being destroyed, which hurt