Flowers for Algernon - Essay

Daniel Keyes’ short story “Flowers for Algernon” published 1959, explores the struggles of an intellectually disabled man as he tries to establish his identity in a world that values intelligence. Keyes employs the use of diary entries and first-person narrative to enable us, the responders, to empathise with this character who suffers exploitation on a number of levels.

Keyes clearly shows that the main character, Charlie, is not as intellectually intelligent as others. He uses a variety of literary techniques to plainly convey this; some of which include the use of spelling errors and childish language. Keyes begins by introducing Charlie as a 37 year old man who knows he is not as smart as others. Charlie associates his identity with intellect, “I want to be smart like other people”. He defines himself in terms of his lack of intelligence.

Charlie is treated awfully at his workplace and has almost no idea what is going on around him. One relevant example would be when Charlie’s coworkers invited him to a party and got him drunk.   After the party he says, ‘Everybody likes me and we have fun’. Keyes shows that Charlie has an innocent sense of awareness, which in the end may protect him from the truth; they really aren’t his friends and they don’t care about him at all.

Throughout this short story, the theme of identity is shown through the actions of Charlie Gordon. Charlie’s lack of intellect leads him towards two researchers looking to perform a procedure that is intended to increase intelligence. After the operation, signs of raised intelligence are shown through his improved spelling and writing style. He outsmarts the test mouse, Algernon, who has also gone through the same experiment as Charlie. He notices things that he would never have seen without the ‘operation’, and becomes very bright minded. He sees things differently for once in his life.
At first he doesn’t notice himself changing, but as one day goes by, Charlie becomes even smarter and...