Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a touching story about a man named Charlie who is chosen for an experiment that offers him the opportunity to become тАЬsmartтАЭ, his deepest wish in life. The novel brings up several important themes and questions, including the ethics of human experimentation, the mistreatment of the mentally disabled in society, and the relationship between intellect and human interactions. Charlie discovers that the grass may not be greener on the other side, as he finds himself increasingly alienated from those he loves when his intelligence becomes markedly higher. By the end of the novel, Charlie regresses back into his former intelligence, but this time with a sense of self-worth that he has derived from his experiences.
The novel is written as a series of journal entries, known to Charlie as тАЬprogress reportsтАЭ, a requirement from his doctors for the experiment. He is 32 years old, with an I.Q. of 68, and he is blissfully unaware of the cruelty with which he is treated by his тАЬfriendsтАЭ at the bakery where he works. He is chosen for an experiment at Beekman College by Miss Kinnian, his teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, because he has motivation to learn. Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss are in charge of this experiment.
After the experiment, CharlieтАЩs intelligence increases, along with his awareness of how others perceive him. He realizes that his тАЬfriendsтАЭ at the bakery, Joe, Frank, and Gimpy, have been laughing at him, not with him, and he loses his job at the bakery because the change in his intelligence scares his coworkers. He also crosses Gimpy when he confronts him for overcharging customers and pocketing the extra change, which seems to cement his firing.
Meanwhile, Charlie has developed a sense of kinship with the lab mouse Algernon, who underwent the same procedure that Charlie did. When he meets Algernon, he learns that Algernon needs to run a maze in order to eat, and Charlie thinks that is unfair. He races Algernon and eventually wins against him, surpassing Algernon in intelligence. Charlie comes to see himself reflected in Algernon, as they are both caught in the cage of this experiment and not treated as individuals. He frees Algernon at a scientific convention in Chicago where they are being showcased and put on display, and they take off to an apartment Charlie rents in New York City.
As the days pass, Charlie notices that Algernon begins to regress, and he eventually dies. Charlie realizes that this will soon happen to him, too, and he has a limited amount of time. He meets his next-door neighbor, Fay, an eccentric artist who is a welcome diversion to Charlie. However, as soon as he realizes he is running out of time, he devotes his life to working in the lab and concluding Nemur and StraussтАЩ experiment, calling it the тАЬAlgernon-Gordon Effect: A Study of Structure and Function of Increased Intelligence.тАЭ His conclusion of the study is that, тАЬArtificially-induced intelligence deteriorates at a rate of time directly proportional to the quantity of the increase.тАЭ As soon as Fay realizes that Charlie isnтАЩt looking to just hang out and have fun anymore, she quickly moves on.
CharlieтАЩs relationship with his teacher Miss Kinnian becomes romantic, but he is unable to connect with her emotionally because his emotional intelligence cannot keep up with his intellect. As a child he was emotionally scarred by his mother, who shamed him for normal sexual development. Alice confronts him with how his intelligence has changed him - and not for the better. They eventually overcome these obstacles, just before Charlie regresses back into his original I.Q. range.
Before Charlie totally regresses, he goes to see his mother, Rose, who is now senile and being taken care of full-time by his sister Norma. When Charlie and Norma hug and reconcile over the crazy events in their childhoods under the watch of their mentally unstable mother, Rose picks up a knife and screams at Charlie never to touch his sister again, accusing him of impure thoughts. This bizarre behavior is also what drove CharlieтАЩs father, Matt, away. Charlie visits Matt, but is not brave enough to tell him his identity. Walking away from these two experiences with a deeper understanding of what happened to him in his childhood allows Charlie to move on from the тАЬother CharlieтАЭ who he feels has been watching him, never quite disappearing, even with CharlieтАЩs newfound intelligence.
Charlie decides, after visiting the Warren Home before his regression, that that will be where he goes to live. He doesnтАЩt want people like Miss Kinnian or the people at the bakery feeling sorry for him, even though Frank, Joe and Gimpy now defend him rather than tease him.
Charlie writes that even though heтАЩs not as smart as he used to be, heтАЩs going to keep trying so that he can sit down and read all the time. His final wish is for someone to visit AlgernonтАЩs grave and leave him flowers, symbolizing the memory of CharlieтАЩs experience, and AlgernonтАЩs, as a success, even though the experiment failed.
рд╕рдВрдЧрдард┐рдд рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдПрдХ рд╕рдВрд░рдЪрд┐рдд рдмрд╣рд╕ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдореЗрдВ рдЫрд╛рддреНрд░ рдлреВрд▓реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрд▓реНрдЬрд░рдиреЙрди рдореЗрдВ рдЙрдареЗ рдиреИрддрд┐рдХ рдореБрджреНрджреЛрдВ рдкрд░ рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВред рднреВрдорд┐рдХрд╛рдПрдБ рд╕реМрдВрдкреЗрдВ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рд╡реИрдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд┐рдХ, рдЪрд╛рд░реНрд▓реА, рдФрд░ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рд╕рджрд╕реНрдп рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рдЫрд╛рддреНрд░ рдХрдИ рджреГрд╖реНрдЯрд┐рдХреЛрдг рджреЗрдЦ рд╕рдХреЗрдВред рд╕рдореНрдорд╛рдирдЬрдирдХ рддрд░реНрдХ рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░реЛрддреНрд╕рд╛рд╣рд┐рдд рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдФрд░ рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧрджрд░реНрд╢рди рдкреНрд░рд╢реНрди рдкреНрд░рджрд╛рди рдХрд░реЗрдВ рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рдмрд╣рд╕ рдХреЗрдВрджреНрд░рд┐рдд рд░рд╣реЗред
рд╕реНрдкрд╖реНрдЯ рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдХрд┐ рдмрд╣рд╕ рдХрд╛ рдЙрджреНрджреЗрд╢реНрдп рдХреНрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдХрд╣рд╛рдиреА рдХреЗ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рд╡рд┐рд╖рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕рдореАрдХреНрд╖рд╛ рдХрд░реЗрдВред рд╕реНрдкрд╖реНрдЯ рдЕрдкреЗрдХреНрд╖рд╛рдПрдБ рддрдп рдХрд░реЗрдВ рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рд╕реБрдирдиреЗ рдФрд░ рдмреЛрд▓рдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рдореНрдорд╛рди рд╣реЛ рдФрд░ рд╕рднреА рдХреА рдЖрд╡рд╛рдЬрд╝ рд╕реБрд░рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдд рд░рд╣реЗред
рдЫрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛рдУрдВ рдХреЛ рдЫреЛрдЯреЗ рд╕рдореВрд╣реЛрдВ рдпрд╛ рдЬреЛрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╛рдВрдЯреЗрдВ, рдФрд░ рдкреНрд░рддреНрдпреЗрдХ рдХреЛ рдХрд╣рд╛рдиреА рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖ рдкрд╛рддреНрд░ рдпрд╛ рд╣рд┐рддрдзрд╛рд░рдХ рд╕реМрдВрдкреЗрдВред рдЫрд╛рддреНрд░реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдХрд╣реЗрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╡реЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкрд╛рддреНрд░ рдХреЗ рдЕрдиреБрднрд╡ рдФрд░ рд╡рд┐рд╢реНрд╡рд╛рд╕ рдХреЗ рдЖрдзрд╛рд░ рдкрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рддрд░реНрдХ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рдХрд░реЗрдВред
рдордзреНрдпрд╕реНрдерддрд╛ рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рдХреЛ рд╡рд┐рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрддреНрддреЗрдЬрдХ рдкреНрд░рд╢реНрди рдкреВрдЫрдХрд░ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ, "рдХреНрдпрд╛ рд╡реИрдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд┐рдХ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЧ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдорд╛рдирд╡ рдкрд░ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдХрднреА рдареАрдХ рд╣реИ?" рдФрд░ "рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рдЬрд┐рдХ рд░реВрдк рд╕реЗ рдЪрд╛рд░реНрд▓реА рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рд▓реЛрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдХреИрд╕рд╛ рд╡реНрдпрд╡рд╣рд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдП?" рд╕рдордп рдкрд░ рдирд┐рдЧрд░рд╛рдиреА рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдФрд░ рд╕реБрдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рдд рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╣рд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХреЛ рдмреЛрд▓рдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рдЕрд╡рд╕рд░ рдорд┐рд▓реЗред
рдХрдХреНрд╖рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рд╕реЗ рд╕реАрдЦреЗ рдЧрдП рд╡рд┐рд╖рдп рдкрд░ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдмрд┐рдВрдм рдХрд╛ рдиреЗрддреГрддреНрд╡ рдХрд░реЗрдВред рдЫрд╛рддреНрд░реЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░реЛрддреНрд╕рд╛рд╣рд┐рдд рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╡реЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╡рд┐рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реБрдП рдмрджрд▓рд╛рд╡ рд╕рд╛рдЭрд╛ рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдФрд░ рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рдХреЛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╡рд┐рдХ рджреБрдирд┐рдпрд╛ рдХреЗ рдиреИрддрд┐рдХ рджреНрд╡рдВрджреНрд╡реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдЬреЛрдбрд╝реЗрдВред
''рдлреВрд▓реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрд▓реНрдЧрд░рдиреЙрди'' рдХрд╛ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рд╡рд┐рд╖рдп рдорд╛рдирд╡ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЧ рдХреА рдиреИрддрд┐рдХ рдФрд░ рднрд╛рд╡рдирд╛рддреНрдордХ рдкреНрд░рднрд╛рд╡ рд╣реИ, рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖рдХрд░ рдмреБрджреНрдзрд┐рдорддреНрддрд╛, рдЖрддреНрдо-рдореВрд▓реНрдп, рдФрд░ рд╕рдорд╛рдЬ рдХрд╛ рдорд╛рдирд╕рд┐рдХ рд╡рд┐рдХрд▓рд╛рдВрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐ рд╡реНрдпрд╡рд╣рд╛рд░ред
рд╢рд┐рдХреНрд╖рдХ рдлреВрд▓реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрд▓реНрдЧрд░рдиреЙрди рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд░ рдХрд░ рд╕рд╣рд╛рдиреБрднреВрддрд┐, рдиреИрддрд┐рдХрддрд╛, рдФрд░ рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐рдЧрдд рд╡рд┐рдХрд╛рд╕ рдкрд░ рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░реЗрд░рд┐рдд рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдЬрд░реНрдирд▓ рдкреНрд░рд╡рд┐рд╖реНрдЯрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдорд╛рдзреНрдпрдо рд╕реЗ рд╕рд╛рд╣рд┐рддреНрдпрд┐рдХ рддрддреНрд╡реЛрдВ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдЪрд░рд┐рддреНрд░ рдЪрд┐рддреНрд░рдг рдФрд░ рдХрдерд╛ рд╕рдВрд░рдЪрдирд╛ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдиреНрд╡реЗрд╖рдг рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВред
рдЪрд▓рд┐рдП рдпрд╣ рд╕рдордЭрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдХрд┐ рдмрдврд╝реА рд╣реБрдИ рдмреБрджреНрдзрд┐рдорддреНрддрд╛ рдЦреБрд╢реА рдпрд╛ рд╕реНрд╡реАрдХреГрддрд┐ рдХреА рдЧрд╛рд░рдВрдЯреА рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИред рд╡рд╣ рдЖрддреНрдо-рдореВрд▓реНрдп рдХреА рдЧрд╣рд░реА рд╕рдордЭ рдФрд░ рджреВрд╕рд░реЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕рдордЭ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдкреНрдд рдХрд░рддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЬреЛ рдХрд░реБрдгрд╛ рдХреЗ рдорд╣рддреНрд╡ рдХреЛ рджрд┐рдЦрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред
рдПрд▓реНрдЧрд░рдиреЙрди, рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЧрд╢рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдХрд╛ рдЪреВрд╣рд╛, рдЪрд▓рд┐рдП рдХреА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдФрд░ рднрд╛рдЧреНрдп рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддреАрдХ рд╣реИред рдЙрд╕рдХреА рдЧрд┐рд░рд╛рд╡рдЯ рдЪрд▓рд┐рдП рдХреА рдЧрд┐рд░рд╛рд╡рдЯ рдХреА рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рд╕реВрдЪрдирд╛ рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХрд╛ рд╕рдВрдмрдВрдз рдЕрд▓рдЧрд╛рд╡ рдФрд░ рд╡реИрдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд┐рдХ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкрд░рд┐рдгрд╛рдореЛрдВ рдХреЛ рджрд░реНрд╢рд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред
рдпрд╣ рдЙрдкрдиреНрдпрд╛рд╕ рдРрд╕реЗ рдиреИрддрд┐рдХ рдкреНрд░рд╢реНрди рдЙрдард╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ: рдХреНрдпрд╛ рдорд╛рдирд╡реЛрдВ рдкрд░ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рд╕рд╣реА рд╣реИ рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рдкреНрд░рдЧрддрд┐ рд╣реЛ рд╕рдХреЗ? рдХреНрдпрд╛ рдмреБрджреНрдзрд┐рдорддреНрддрд╛ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐ рдХрд╛ рдореВрд▓реНрдп рддрдп рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реИ? рд╕рдорд╛рдЬ рдХреЛ рд╡рд┐рдХрд▓рд╛рдВрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐ рдХреИрд╕рд╛ рд╡реНрдпрд╡рд╣рд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдП?