How can an audience identify with Charlie Gordon’s desire to be ‘smart’? Essay Example

production line, which would save thousands of pounds in labor and increase production, factory owner Mr Donnegan rewarded him with a bonus of fifty pounds. This newfound intelligence threatened his colleagues, causing them to petition for his removal. They could no longer find humor in mocking Charlie or feel superior to him. Furthermore, his ideas posed a significant risk to their job security.

Charlie's lack of intelligence and understanding of others' perceptions of him would have remained unknown had he not undergone the operation. Prior to the procedure, his naivety and gullibility were direct results of his limited intelligence and sensibility. Furthermore, Charlie values morality more than the other characters.

Charlie considers Algernon his friend and values him as much as a human being. Despite feeling pleased with himself when he successfully outwits Algernon in the maze, Charlie also experiences sadness for the mouse due to its loss. He empathizes with Algernon's feelings of disappointment and understands that winning all the time can make the loss even harder to bear. Nonetheless, Charlie lacks a complete understanding of friendship.

Despite only meeting Bert once, Charlie believes that he is his friend. However, the people Charlie considers friends are actually mocking him. Initially unaware of the prejudice against those with less intelligence and of the unkind things said and done, Charlie becomes aware of a harsh and imperfect world after his operation. As a result, his emotions and reactions towards those around him change.

During the conference, Charlie expresses his unique perspective on people, stating that no one is truly what they appear to be on the surface. As he gets to know Miss Kinnian on

a deeper level, he develops feelings for her beyond their teacher-student relationship. Over time, Charlie's outlook on life changes and he becomes more jaded and aware of the cruelty of the world. He understands why he was made fun of before and even realizes that he himself has made fun of people less intelligent than him. When he finds himself laughing at a slow-witted boy dropping plates in a cafe, Charlie is horrified at his own hypocrisy.

Charlie starts to doubt if his views on intelligence have shifted, as it took a naive boy to reveal the truth to him - much like everyone else.

It's possible that Charlie may have been happier when he had less intelligence. However, the operation to enhance his intelligence ends up making him too smart. This causes him to become angry and scared because others don't understand his complicated language. As his intelligence surpasses that of the scientists, Charlie begins to dismiss much of what they say, unknowingly making them feel inferior. He bitterly comments on how he and Algernon are interchangeable experimental animals- 'Charlie and Algernon', 'Algernon and Charlie'. He feels like a test subject, as no one else can relate to him.

At the end of the play, Charlie appears to be more emotionally deprived and alone than he was before. Despite being socially engaged in conversations with his colleagues at the factory beforehand, he felt content. Nevertheless, following his surgery, his intelligence left him more secluded and incapable of relating to others, stating that he cannot connect with anyone much now. His current situation contrasts with his previous situation. Charlie lacked the intellect to communicate effectively before, but now

he speaks in terms beyond what others would understand, making him too intelligent to communicate with the average person.

Charlie initially lacked pride, but when he gained intelligence, he became proud. However, as his abilities declined and he regressed, he felt ashamed and desperately clung to his former pride. Charlie eventually understood that like Algernon, his regression was inevitable. The return of his stutter marked the start of his decline and a devastating realization of his fate. In the end, Charlie felt compelled to go somewhere where he was unknown.

The final line of the story demonstrates the ironic nature of Charlie's situation, as he remarks that "It's easy to make friends if you let people laugh at you." During Charlie's operation, neurosurgeon Strauss played a different role than Nemur, as it was Strauss who performed the procedure. Though Nemur initially opposed Charlie being chosen for the program, Strauss ultimately overruled him and deemed Charlie a suitable candidate.

Strauss and Charlie have a close working relationship that differs from Nemur's approach. Strauss treats Charlie as more than just a test subject and shows genuine concern for him as a person. However, when the doctors inform Charlie about the temporary nature of the effects, he struggles to comprehend this and it may be a result of inadequate explanation. Despite this, Strauss remains a supportive and kind presence in Charlie's life, without being condescending.

Charlie is asked if he is afraid and given words of comfort about the unknown. Initially, Charlie believes Strauss to be his friend due to his kindness. On the other hand, he perceives Nemur as unfriendly and distant during their initial encounter. It is peculiar

that Nemur, being the trained psychologist, appears less humane than Strauss. Later on, Strauss is seen working at a greater distance from Charlie.

After only five days' work, Charlie produces a complete report of 'The Algernon-Gordon Experiment', which shocks Dr. Nemur, the leading psychologist and experimental theoretician who believes his work has never been given the recognition it deserves. Approaching sixty years of age, Dr. Nemur realizes that The Charlie Gordon experiment could be his last chance to establish a reputation for himself, and he wants everything to be perfect. Initially, he objects to conducting the operation on Charlie, believing him to be an unsuitable candidate. However, even though he initially harbours these reservations, he wants to publish the report immediately to ensure that Charlie does not detract from his 'glory'.

Charlie detects that Nemur only regards him as an experiment, and he dislikes Nemur because of it. He voices his feelings to Miss Kinnian, stating that if Nemur knows his thought process, then he is aware of Charlie's negative opinion towards him. Despite Charlie's sentiments, Nemur disregards his emotions and speaks condescendingly to him. However, when Charlie's intelligence surpasses that of Strauss and Nemur, he admits Nemur's brilliance, but undermines him by claiming he is limited by his own uncertainty.

Ultimately, Nemur may show more compassion than Strauss since he is aware of Charlie's fate. He understands that Charlie will experience a surge in intelligence and struggle to manage it as he confesses, "I just don't think he'll be able to cope with it" prior to the procedure. The medical professionals fail to educate Charlie adequately about the operation, leaving him uninformed and unable to make

a well-informed decision. Although they mention the possibility of failure and fleeting effects, they downplay the explanation, causing Charlie to selectively interpret their words. The doctors make little effort to convey the potential complications clearly, suggesting that they do not wish for him to grasp the magnitude of what might occur. Throughout the narrative, Miss Kinnian serves as Charlie's instructor at evening school and an indispensable figure.

Miss Kinnian has a tremendous impact on Charlie's academic and social life, as the clever Charlie falls head over heels for her. She serves as an inspiration and role model for Charlie, encouraging him to undertake various endeavors. Furthermore, she is empathetic and supportive, considering others' sentiments. Miss Kinnian desires the best for her pupils, establishing a friendly relationship with Charlie. She attempts to ease his transition to higher intelligence by informing him, "You shouldn't feel bad if you find out that some people aren't as nice as you think." Miss Kinnian advocates for Charlie to receive the operation because she believes it will provide him with a measure of "normality," which he has never experienced before. During the procedure, Miss Kinnian is present to console him, reassuring him not to be afraid.

Despite being a skilled surgeon, Dr Strauss refrains from discussing operation details with Charlie. While expressing optimism by telling him, "You'll be in good hands" and saying, "I think you're going to show them all", she remains uncertain about her actions.

Miss Kinnian may have unknowingly acted in a way that took advantage of Charlie. Without discussing the risks or explaining the permanence of the operation, she nominated him for it. She could have been more candid and

ensured that Charlie understood what he was agreeing to. Charlie sees Miss Kinnian as a friend and relies on her judgement, making it easy for him to consent to the surgery. Despite her lack of awareness, Miss Kinnian values Charlie for who he is, treating him with respect and not belittling him for his low intelligence. Her experience as an instructor of adults with learning difficulties gives her insight into Charlie's challenges and frustrations. Naturally, she wants him to have access to a world previously inaccessible to him.

Miss Kinnian acknowledges that every step of Charlie's journey expands his realm of experience exponentially, exclaiming, "Each step will open new worlds that you never even knew existed." Yet, when Charlie's intelligence begins to soar, she becomes apprehensive and unsettled by his transformation, apologizing by saying, "I'm sorry."

The woman expresses regret and surprise at the man's rapid increase in intelligence, acknowledging that he may soon surpass her in reading ability. However, she also looks optimistically towards the future as the man continues to progress. She expresses concern that her initial recommendation to pursue intelligence augmentation may have been misguided and acknowledges the man's growing isolation and fear of regression.

It is possible that she regrets her encouragement to have the operation, considering the societal expectation that individuals should conform to certain behaviour and be judged by their intelligence. Our culture only prizes academic intelligence and disregards other forms, with examinations being held in high regard. It appears that we value testing more than we do people. In contemporary society, research is crucial for scientists who aim to discover means of assisting others. Charlie recognises the significance of research

in aiding individuals with less intelligence when he witnesses a boy spilling plates in the cafe.

Obtaining a patient's consent is essential prior to any procedure, but it may become complicated in cases where the patient possesses an unstable mental state or lacks the intelligence required to make a responsible decision. Charlie is an example of this type of patient whose mental age prevents him from understanding the implications and consequences of his medical treatment, rendering him similar to a laboratory animal. This stance on the matter of patient’s consent is unacceptable to many people within our society. Flowers for Algernon incorporates dramatic irony, highlighting Charlie's initial lack of awareness regarding his situation and the certainty that everyone else possesses regarding his future.

After Charlie's operation, there is less dramatic irony in the scene where he has to navigate the maze and is beaten by Algernon. Unlike before, Charlie is now more intelligent and aware of his surroundings. The tone of his voice is also affected by the operation, as sound effects depict his occasional stutter at the beginning. However, after the operation, he speaks fluently and confidently until his regression, where the stutter resurfaces. As a radio play, scene changes are indicated by various sound effects that set the tone of each scene.

The argument between Nemur and Strauss behind a closed door is an example of muffled sounds. Sound effects play a crucial role in the scene where Charlie laughs at the slow-witted boy in the restaurant who breaks all the plates. This moment is significant as it marks Charlie's realization that he too harbors prejudice towards less intelligent individuals. Charlie's desire to become

intelligent is a recurring theme throughout the text and intersects with his appreciation for moral values and friendship as key factors in leading a happy life.