Intelligence In Flowers For Algernon

As humans we feel the need to better ourselves and sometimes it is through intelligence. Many people respect and value opinions of others based on their intelligence and that is why many humans strive for knowledge because they want to become smart and gain that respect that many people view so highly. In the science fiction novel, Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keys, A 37 year old man named Charlie Gordon struggles with his learning because he is not of the average intelligence and can’t comprehend things like others do. Charlie was given a once in a lifetime opportunity that would allow him to become intelligent and would triple his IQ. Charlie had a strong urge to learn and wanted to become smart so he agreed to the surgery. Unfortunately …show more content…
Charlie recently quit his job at the plastic box company because Mr. Donnegan the owner said that it would best if he felt. Mr Donnegan then asked people to sign the petition that would fire Charlie from the workplace everyone's name was on the list except for Fanny Gordon. Franny knew that firing him was wrong, but she did not like the fact that he changed himself to become smarter she expressed this by saying, “You used to be a good, dependable, ordinary man… Who knows what you have done to yourself to get smart all of a sudden. Like everybody around here's been saying, Charlie, It’s not right…[Charlie then says]now, they hate me for my knowledge and my intelligence… Now I’m more alone than ever before,”(16 Keys). Many of Charlie’s coworkers became very disturbed that the Charlie they once knew transformed into something that was totally opposite of what he was. His intelligence was not the only thing that they were noticing change it was also his personality. They noticed that as he became smarter he became less sociable and not someone you could laugh with which scared them so much that they decided to fire him. Because of this it made Charlie feel guilty for taking the surgery because he looks back and sees that he was once this guy that everyone wanted around and now that dont want him at all. He believed that if he got the surgery he could understand things better which would …show more content…
Charlie has just been hired again to become the janitor from the company he used to work at before he was fired. Before he went to work again he reminded himself not to get offended by what people may say to him if he knows he was once someone who they were fearful of and he knows that he was more powerful. A new employee decided to say a joke towards Charlie that was very hurtful, “but Joe Carp came over and grabbed him by the shirt and said leave him alone you lousy cracker or I'll break your neck...if anybody bothers you or trys to take advantage you can call me or joe and we will set em straight”(27 Keys). Joe and Frank were standing up for Charlie because the new employee was mocking him and making fun of him. Joe and Frank were infuriated by the sight of this so they decided to go up to the guy and tell him off. They used to be the ones making fun of him, but because they knew that what the guy was doing was wrong they decided to stand up for him and offered to help Charlie whenever he need it. Even though they stood up for him, they showed no interest in wanting to get to know and becoming friends with him. Charlie started to notice that all his friends had changed and that they were not the same towards him. They became more serious and less joyful like what he had in the beginning. Charlie hated that all they would do is feel sorry for him and treated him differently and he