Flowers For Algernon (Short Story)

FLOWERS

FOR

ALGERNON

-----~----

,-"~""-"-~"-~"-"----

DANIEL

KEYES

progris riport

l-martch

5 1965

r. Strauss says I shud rite down what I think and evrey thing that

happins to me from now on. I dont know why but he says its importint

so they will see if they will use me. I hope they use me. Miss Kinnian says

maybe they can make me smart. I want to be smart.

name

is Charlie

Gordon. I

years old and 2 weeks ago was my brithday. I have nuthing

more to rite now so I will close for today.

progris riport

2-martch

I had a test today. I think I faled it. and I think that maybe now they wont

use me. What happind

a nice young

man

was in the room

and

he had some

white cards with ink spillled all over them. He sed Charlie what do you see

this card. I was very skared even tho I had my rabits foot in my pockit

,/I

because when I was a kid I always faled tests in school and I spillled ink to.

I told him I saw a inkblot. He said yes and

made me feel good. I thot

that was all but when I got up to go he stopped me. He said now sit down

Charlie we are not

thru

yet. Then I dont remember so good but he wan tid me

to say what was in the ink. I dint see nuthing in the ink but he said there was

picturs there other pepul saw some picturs. I coudnt see any picturs. I reely

tryed to see. I held the

card

close up and then far away. Then I said if 1 had

my glases I coud see better I usally only ware my glases in the movies

but 1 said they are in the closh in the hall. I got them. Then I said let me see

that card agen I bet

III

find it now.

I tryed hard but I still coudnt find the picturs I only saw the ink. 1 told

him maybe 1 need new glases. He rote somthing down

paper

and I got

skared of faling the test. I told him it was a very nice inkblot with littel points

all

around

the eges. He looked very sad so that wasnt it. I said please let me

try agen.

III

get it in a few minits becaus

not so fast somtimes.

a slow

reeder too in Miss Kinnians class for slow adults but I'm trying very hard.

He gave me a chance with another card that had 2 kinds of ink spilled

red and blue.

He was very nice and talked slow like Miss Kinnian does and he

ex-

planed it to me that

was a raw shok. He said pepul see things in the ink.

I said show me where. He said think. I told him I think a inkblot but that

wasnt rite eather. He said what does

remind

you-pretend

something. 1

closd my eyes for a long time to pretend. I told him I pretend a fowntan pen

with ink leeking all over a table cloth. Then he got up and went out.

1 dont think I passd the

raw shok test.

progris report

3-martch

Dr Strauss and Dr Nemur say it dont matter about the inkblots. I told them

285

I dint spill the ink on the cards and I coudnt see anything in the ink. They said

286

FLOWERS

FOR

ALGERNON

that maybe they will still use me. I said Miss Kinnian never gave me tests like

that one only spelling

and

reading. They said Miss Kinnian told that I was her

bestist pupil in the adult nite scool becaus I tryed the hardist and I reely

wantid to lern. They said how come you went to the adult nite scool all by

yourself Charlie. How did you find it. I said I askd pepul and sumbody told

me where I shud go to lern to read and spell good. They said why did you want

to. I told them becaus all my life I wantid to be smart

and

not dumb. But its

very hard to be smart. They said you know it will probly be tempirery. I said

yes. Miss Kinnian told me. I dont care if it herts.

Later I had more crazy tests today. The nice lady who gave it me told

me the name and I asked her how do you spellit so I can rite it in my progris

riport.

THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST. I dont know the frist 2 words

but

I know

what

test means. You got to pass

or you get bad marks. This test lookd easy

becaus I coud see the picturs. Only this time she dint want me to tell

her

the

picturs. That mixd me up. I said the man yesterday said I shoud tell him what

I saw in the ink she said that dont make no difrence. She said make up storys

about the pepul in the picturs.

I told her how can you tell storys about pepul you never met. I said why

shud I make

lies. I never tell lies any more becaus I always get caut.

She told me this test and the other one the raw-shok was for getting

personalty. I laffed so hard. I said how can you get that thing from inkblots

and fotos. She got sore and put

her

picturs away. I dont care. It was siIy. I gess

I faled that test too.

Later some men in white coats took me to a difernt part of the hospitil

and gave me a game to play.

was like a race with a white mouse. They called

the mouse Algernon. Algernon was in a box with a lot of twists and

turns

all-kinds of walls and they gave me a pencil and a paper with lines

and

lots

of boxes.

one side it said START and

the other end

said

FINISH.

They

said it was

amazed and that Algernon and me had the same amazed to do.

I dint see how we could have the same

amazed if Algernon had a box

and

had a paper but I dint say nothing. Anyway there wasnt time because the race

started.

One of the men had a watch he was trying to hide so I

woudnt

see it so

I tryed not to look and that made me nervus.

Anyway that test made me feel worser than all the others because they

did it over

times with difernt amazeds and Algernon won every time. I dint

know that mice were so smart. Maybe thats because Algernon is a white

mouse. Maybe white mice are

smarter

then other mice.

progris riport

4-Mar

Their going to use

me!

so exited I can hardly write. Dr Nemur

and

Strauss had a argament about

first. Dr Nemur was in the office when Dr

Strauss brot me in. Dr Nemur was worryed about using me but Dr Strauss

told him Miss Kinnian rekemmended me the best from all the people who she

was teaching. I like Miss Kinnian becaus shes a very smart teacher. And she

said Charlie your going to have a second chance.

you volenteer for this

{

(

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,~!

,:~

287

DANIEL

KEYES

{

::>

}

experamenl

you mite get smart. They dont

know

if it will be

perminint

but

theirs a chance. Thats why I said ok even

when

I was scared because she said

it was

operashun.

She

said dont be scared Charlie you done so

much

with

so little I think you deserv it most

all.

So I got scaird when Dr

Nemur

and

Strauss

argud about it.

Strauss

said I

had

something that was very good. He said I had a good motor-vation.

I never even knew I had that. I felt

proud

when he said that not every body

with

eye-q

had

that thing. I

dont

know

what

it is

where

I got it

but

he said Algernon had it too. Algernons motor-vation is the cheese they put

his box. But it

cant

that

because I

didnt

eat

any

cheese this week.

Then he told Dr

Nemur

something I

dint

understand

while they were

talking I wrote

down

some

the words.

He said Dr

Nemur

I know Charlie is not what you

had

mind

the

first of

your

new brede

intelek,Hr (coudnt get the word)

superman.

But

most

people

his low menr"'*

are

host~d'

and

uncoop'~~'

they

are

usualy dull

apath

,'0':

and

hard

to reach. He

has

a good

natcher

hes intristed

and

eager to

please.

Nemur

said

remember

he will be the first

human

beeng

ever

to have

his intelijence trippled by surgicle meens.

Strauss

said exakly. Look at how well hes lerned to

read

and

write

for his low mentel age its as grate

acheveH

you

and

I lerning einstines

therey

**vity without help. That shows the intenss motor-vation. Its com-

parat** a

tremen~d'

achev~d'

I say we use Charlie.

I dint get all

the

words

and

they were talking to fast but it

sounded

Strauss

was

my side

and

like the

other

one

wasnt.

Then Dr

Nemur

nodded

he said all right maybe

your

right. We will use

Charlie. When he said that I got so exited I

jumped

and

shook his

hand

for being so good to me. I told

him

thank

you doc you

wont

sorry

for

giving

a second chance. And I

mean

it like I told him. After

the

operashun

gonna

try to be smart.

gonna

try awful hard.

progris ript

5-Mar

1m skared. Lots

people who work

here

and

the

nurses

and

the people who

gave me the tests

came

bring

me candy

and

wish me luck. I hope I have

luck. I got my

rabits

foot

and

my lucky

penny

and

my horse shoe. Only a black

cat crossed me

when

I was

comming

to the hospitil. Dr

Strauss

says dont be

supersitis Charlie this is sience. Anyway 1m keeping

rabits

foot with me.

I.asked Dr

Strauss

III

beat

Algernon

the race

after

the operashun

and

he said maybe.

the

operashun

works

III

show

that

mouse I

can

be as

smart

he is. Maybe

smarter.

Then

III

be abel to

read

better

and

spell the

words

good

and

know

lots

things and be like

other

people. I

want

to be

smart

other

people.

works

perminint

they will

make

everybody

smart

all over the wurld.

They dint give me anything to eat this morning. I dont know

what

that

eating

has

to do with getting smart.

very

hungry

and

Nemur

took away

153

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FAQs of Flowers for Algernon (Short story)

What is the main theme of Flowers for Algernon?

The main theme of Flowers for Algernon revolves around the exploration of human intelligence and its implications on identity and relationships. The story illustrates how Charlie Gordon's transformation from a mentally challenged individual to a genius affects his interactions with others and his understanding of the world. As he gains intelligence, he grapples with feelings of isolation, alienation, and the realization that intelligence does not guarantee happiness or acceptance. Ultimately, the narrative raises questions about the value of intelligence and the ethical considerations of manipulating human cognition.

How does Charlie Gordon's character change throughout the story?

Charlie Gordon undergoes significant character development throughout Flowers for Algernon. Initially, he is a kind-hearted but intellectually disabled man who is eager to learn and please others. After undergoing surgery to increase his intelligence, he becomes highly intelligent, gaining knowledge and awareness that profoundly alters his perspective on life. However, as his intelligence peaks, he also experiences emotional turmoil and loneliness, leading to a tragic regression back to his original state. This transformation highlights the complexities of human experience and the transient nature of intelligence.

What happens to Algernon, the mouse, in the story?

Algernon, the mouse, is the first subject of the experimental surgery that Charlie undergoes. Initially, Algernon demonstrates remarkable intelligence and problem-solving abilities, outperforming Charlie in maze tests. However, as the story progresses, Algernon begins to exhibit signs of regression, losing his cognitive abilities and eventually dying. This decline serves as a foreshadowing of Charlie's own fate, emphasizing the temporary nature of the intelligence gained through the surgery and raising ethical questions about the treatment and its long-term effects.

What ethical questions does Flowers for Algernon raise?

Flowers for Algernon raises several ethical questions regarding scientific experimentation on humans. It challenges the morality of altering a person's intelligence and the potential consequences of such actions. The story prompts readers to consider the implications of playing God with human cognition and the responsibilities of scientists towards their subjects. Additionally, it explores the societal treatment of individuals with intellectual disabilities, questioning whether intelligence equates to worth and the impact of societal perceptions on personal identity.