In the novel Flowers for Algernon, “ignorance is a bliss” is an abundant theme shown throughout the book. This theme can also relate to everyday people in the real world. There are many different examples of this theme in the novel and in real life, but in the book, ignorance did not stop Charlie Gordon from aspiring to become intelligent. The theme of “ignorance is a bliss”, is shown throughout the novel Flowers for Algernon in many different ways. In the novel, the protagonist Charlie Gordon struggles with PKU (phenylketonuria), which is a mental disorder that causes him to have many development delays throughout his life. The theme of “ignorance is a bliss” is first recognized by the reader when Gordon begins taking tests that Dr. Burt …show more content…
What Gordon does not understand is the fact that him and Algernon are very alike. This proves the theme of “ignorance is a bliss” because the doctors are also having Gordon participate in different tests to examine his intelligence level. If Gordon knew that he was just like the lab rat and was being tested on, he most likely would not allow it. Gordon also works at Donnor’s Bakery, due to his Uncle asking the owner, Mr. Donnor, to take care of Gordon and make the bakery a home to Gordon. While working at the bakery, the other workers such as Joe, Frank, Gimpy, and Ernie, always mess around with Gordon, knowing he has a mental disability. Sometimes, Frank or Joe will say “He really pulled a Charlie Gordon” (17), referring to the fact that someone did something stupid or ignorant. This also proves the theme of “ignorance is a bliss” because Gordon has no clue that his “friends” mean this in a harmful or rude way. Instead, Gordon laughs with them and believes they are his real friends. Another time when Gordon’s ignorance helped mask over the fact that Joe was being rude, was when Gordon asked Joe if he could teach him how to read, and
“Our Civilization is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge” (Bradbury, 84). The novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a comment on the habit of mankind to destroy itself, only to pop right back up from the ashes. The main character, Guy Montag, represents the parts of mankind that are becoming aware of this, through awareness, change through tragedy and obligation to spread both the former.
In the mind of Ray Bradbury, people are scared of reality. His dystopian novel entitled Fahrenheit 451 is noted as one of his best stories. It tells of a futuristic American society where books are illegal. The main character, Montag, is a “fireman” who burns books, but he soon realizes the knowledge the poses. A dystopian novel is one where everything goes terribly wrong. A motif is a recurring theme or idea through out a book. To be ignorant is to not have the knowledge of something. In this book, ignorance is a motif. The imaginary society is very ignorant of books. Their ignorance prevents them from gaining knowledge, having control over what they know, and being satisfied with life.
“Ignorance is bliss,” is an old saying used throughout time and can be applied to the tragic yet inspiring (5) story know as Flowers for Algernon. Author Daniel Keyes creates a mentally challenged character, Charlie Gordon, who has went through his life completely unaware of his disability is given an opportunity to change everything. As the story progress Charlie is faced with a constant battle between intellect and emotion or happiness, which leads to some dire situations and choices he may not be ready to make.
... also come to the conclusion that complete understanding is not only impossible but also undesirable. As a result, Jack agrees with Ellis Burden who reasons that “Separateness [from God] is identity,” and since only God knows everything, ignorance is a quality all humans share (Warren 659). It is ironic that the world seems clearer to Jack when he realizes that men are naturally ignorant than when he sought to understand everything. Jack’s progress lies in his ability to “distinguish the pursuit of knowledge from Complete Knowledge itself” (Wolf). Jack realizes that it is only human have the freedom to pursue knowledge, while the possession of Complete Knowledge destroys the purpose of life. Jack’s epiphanies occur at the expense of others, namely Judge Irwin, Willie, and Adam, but it is necessary for Jack to learn that freedom comes from the realization of truth.
People often judge others by certain characteristics. Intelligence is one of the most important ones. It is like the difference in talking to a three year old kid versus talking to an adult. People also behave differently. In the story “Flowers for Algernon”, the statement “Ignorance is bliss” is proven true.
The phrase, “ignorance is bliss,” points toward the fact that sometimes not having knowledge about something is frightening, but it can sometimes be better than knowing and stressing about it. The definition of “Bliss” means supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment, and it is explored in, "Anthem," ignorance does not always ensure a person to bliss. In, "Anthem," the people of Equality’s society are often scared and depressed. They do not know why they aren’t allowed to love who they want to love, why they can’t do the jobs they want to do, and why they aren’t allowed to ask questions. Everyone in this society has been raised ignorant of their government’s form of corruption; their subjugation of individuals. These people fail to realize this, and their lives are miserable because of it.
Algernon is a mouse. He's a special mouse, Charlie Gordon is told, and it must be true, because whenever Charlie and Algernon run a race (Algernon is in a real maze; Charlie has a pencil-and-paper version), Algernon wins. How did that mouse get to be so special, Charlie wonders? The answer is that Algernon's IQ has been tripled by an experimental surgical procedure.
This story is written in the form of journals to convey Charlie’s personal thoughts to the reader. This form of writing shows the thought process of Charlie before, during, and after his operation, and it explains how people shouldn’t change for anyone else. In Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes presents the idea that self-acceptance is important in life along with staying true to who you are.
The quote, “Ignorance is bliss,” by Thomas Gray is a seemingly adequate description of the lives of Gene, Finny, and Leper until they are all roughly jolted out of their fantasy world and brought back to reality. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles does an acceptable job of showing how disillusionment can greatly impact and, thus, change the lives of people. The book showcases the cycle of disillusionment and the ramifications it implies. Throughout the book, we see Gene, Leper, and Finny’s views on the world change. This all culminates in Gene being elevated to a higher level of understanding of the world and seeing the truth about Devon and the war. The illusions created by Finny and Leper are also taken on by Gene, and he, in turn, shares in their disillusionment. Overall, disillusionment is a part of life and often serves as a tool to help many people grow and learn from the past.
“Flowers for Algernon” is about a man named Charlie Gordon who is mentally retarded. Charlie signs up for an experiment that is supposed to make him smarter. He wants to be like every one else. To do the experiment he has to keep a journal showing his progress. Charlie starts out spelling almost every word wrong. Charlie’s family and friends have all made fun of him; his parents gave him to his uncle when he was ten.
Many popular novels are often converted into television movies. The brilliant fiction novel, Flowers for Algernon written by Daniel Keyes, was developed into a dramatic television film. Flowers for Algernon is about a mentally retarded man who is given the opportunity to become intelligent through the advancements of medical science. This emotionally touching novel was adapted to television so it could appeal to a wider, more general audience. Although the novel and film are similar in terms of plot and theme, they are different in terms of characters.
"Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise" - so says Thomas Gray. In reference to this novel, it means that the people that lived in the vicinity of the concentration camp claimed to not know what was going on in the camp, so they could be "blissfully ignorant" of the Holocaust happening around them. This means that they did not have to live with the guilt of knowing what was going on and not doing anything. That is why they would be called "blissful". The quote means that if we are ignorant of something, we don't have to deal with it and are therefore happy.
“Flowers for Algernon, first published in 1959, is considered a landmark work on both science fiction and disability literature,” (Werlock 2009). The American Library Association reports that this novel was banned as an obscene for its love scenes. When the main character, Charlie Gordon, increases his IQ from 68 to a level that makes him a genius (after received experimental brain surgery), his maturity leads him to fall in love with his teacher, and a sexual encounter ensues. This caused Flowers for Algernon to be banned and challenged in many places (Plant City, Florida- 1976, Emporium, Pennsylvania- 1977, Oberlin High School (Ohio) - 1983, among others). Most people consider the sexual scenes fairly mild, but there are those who consider any mention of sexual behavior inappropriate for teens or pre-teens, hence the attempts at censorship. Many of the challenges have proved unsuccessful, but the book has occasionally been banned from school libraries including some in Pennsylvania and Texas. Flowers for Algernon has won numerous awards, even for the film, and it is regularly taught in schools around the world; therefore, it should remain on shelves.
The theme of ignorance is vital for this story. It is woven throughout and evident in all the characters. It is first displayed through the protagonist, John Harker. It is his innate lack of knowing that puts him in a deadly situation: “Do you know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are doing?'; (5) This was the protagonist, Jonathan Harker’s second encounter with strangers, in a strange land, in which he was confronted in this manner. He had three such encounters, all of which he nonchalantly dismissed. During his first encounter, the people simply refused to answer any of his questions. In his third encounter, strangers made the sign of a cross and pointed at him. During all of this, Jonathan had no clue why these people were acting in this strange way, nor did he have a notion to question why. Even though he is oblivious to the reasons for their behavior, he blindly continues on the path the strangers warned him not to go on. Another depiction of this ignorance is shown through Dr. Seward and Dr. Van Helsing as they work on a patient, Lucy Westerna. After the doctors diagnosed Lucy as being “somewhat'; bloodless and the pricks on neck were discovered, they immediately dismissed the idea of the pricks being the cause of this loss of blood. “It at once occurred to me that this wound, or whatever it was might be the means for this manifest loss of blood; but I abandoned the idea as soon as formed, for such a thing could not be.'; (131) These doctors had knowledge, but their own ignorance interfered even though all the signs of what was going on were clear.
Although imagery and symbolism does little to help prepare an expected ending in “The Flowers” by Alice Walker, setting is the singular element that clearly reasons out an ending that correlates with the predominant theme of how innocence disappears as a result of facing a grim realism from the cruel world. Despite the joyous atmosphere of an apparently beautiful world of abundant corn and cotton, death and hatred lies on in the woods just beyond the sharecropper cabin. Myop’s flowers are laid down as she blooms into maturity in the face of her fallen kinsman, and the life of summer dies along with her innocence. Grim realism has never been so cruel to the innocent children.