Analysis Of Flowers For Algernon

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Arthur Liu Liu 1
Mrs. Ralston
Period 6
7 May 2014
Enigmatic Emotions for Increased Intelligence
The short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes depicts a man named Charlie with and I.Q. level of 68 which represents Charlie at an intelligence disadvantage. Because of Charlie’s motivation, his teacher, Miss Kinnian, recommends him to the operation to Dr. Strauss. Charlie secures the intelligence, but it rapidly drains within himself. Only his emotion and experiences dwell within him; artificial intelligence became transient to Charlie. Charlie’s actions before and after the surgery both benefited him and hindered him towards the life he must face in the present and future.
Before the operation took place, Charlie knew nothing about his surroundings and took everything positively. When Charlie took the rorschach test, “I [Charlie] told him I pretend a fowntan pen with ink leeking all over the table cloth. Then he got up and went out. I dont think I passed the raw shok test” (222). Charlie confuses the image into the literal meaning of what he saw, which was the ink, he could not go in depth and see what the picture made. Charlie thought he had friends where, “Everybody laffed and we [Charlie and Joe’s friends] had a good time and they gave me [Charlie] lots of drinks and Joe said Charlie is a card when hes potted. I dont know what that means but everybody likes me and we have fun” (228). Charlie does not know the term utilized by Joe which meant that Charlie is hilarious when he is drunk. Charlie shows blindness to the mocking fact and takes it as an euphemism. At times when Charlie needs assistance, ...

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...is emotions and experiences still lie within himself. It is better for Charlie to take the operation. The operation assists Charlie in interpreting the cryptic things he never felt in his life before. Charlie’s understanding of himself and others around him are important in living life; without knowing what the situation means that life is not worth living, especially if one does not accomplishing anything. Also, in the beginning of the short story, Charlie strives to become smarter. The artificial intelligence is given to him for a period but this allows Charlie to know the consequences of losing something precious. The impacts on the surgery has given Charlie intelligence of emotions and experience, even though he covets the old intelligence he once had. After the surgery, more is gained than lost which is why Charlie made the right choice of taking the operation.

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