Flowers by Algernon by Daniel KeyesCharlie Gordon, the main character of this book, is a poor speller and doesn't have much understanding of life. He attends to Beekman College Center, a school for Retarded Adults, where Charlie takes Ms Kinnian's literacy class. He has been chosen to be on an operation because Ms Kinnian knows that Charlie is the only one that is truly passionate about learning. Charlie also works at Donner’s Bakery, where he has “friends”, with Joe Carp, Frank Reilly, and Gimpy. These “friends” aren’t really his friends, as they don’t treat Charlie with respect, except for Gimpy, who seems to defend him for most of the time. Before the operation is done, as Charlie keeps writing his reports, the audience is able to notice that he has problems remembering that he can't remember his own parent's names, except for his sister Norma, but he still doesn't remember much about her either. After the operation is performed you are able to see how his writing improves and is able to he is better at the understanding situation and remembers about his past. After some time and going to now specialized classes with Ms Kinnian he notices that he is catching feelings for her. He doesn't understand this new feeling and wants to know what is really going on. While he is still figuring out his love life, Dr Strauss and Dr Nemur discuss when to "display Charlie" to other scientists and psychologists. Charlie starts to feel like an experiment instead of a human being and starts to question their intentions. Charlie also later realizes that his friends are being disrespectful to him and starts to have bad memories about them. Even though Charlie knows that they're not the best people he really wants to tell them that he is smarter, but he can't because the directors of the operation told him it was a secret. His co-workers at the bakery start noticing a change in Charlie and don't know if it's a good thing. They try to pull a prank on Charlie, for April fools, and Charlie ends up making them look like fools. They ask him to fix one of the machines and to use it, and Charlie starts, fixes it and uses the machine perfectly as if he had already known how to. They are not happy about this, and Charlie wonders why. Charlie is learning new things all the time and his friends at the bakery started to feel inferior compared to his intelligence and they decide to tell Mr Donner about it so he can fire him. Charlie is surprised by the news, he is sad because he knows that when he wasn't smart they were mean to him but now that he talks to them like a normal person they are mad at him for it. Charlie is very confused by this situation and doesn't know what to do. I think that Charlie needs to know that when he talks to other people he needs to make sure he doesn't bring up a topic that will make others look ignorant. Alice, Ms Kinnian, also likes Charlie and tries to use all her intelligence to understand him, yet Charlie also makes her feel inferior with all his knowledge. She used to be such a big help to Charlie but know she feels like she knows nothing. She is able to explain this to Charlie, but that is still something he needs to understand more. He still experimenting new things but he needs to consider their situation at times.
I will be commenting on Paulina's and Jenny's posts.
2 Comments
Paulina
2/9/2018 06:39:58 pm
I really like how described the character relationship how some not the best. I really got to know the relationship Charlie has with his "friends" and know that aren't really his friends because they are mean to him. Do you think the relationship with these characters will change. And why do you think they act this way towards Charlie? I'm a little curious to know where his parents are in this timing is he close with them and what are there thoughts in all of these operations.
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Jenny Lovstrom
2/9/2018 09:35:23 pm
I think you did a really good job at explaining what you have read so far. I like how you put a lot of detail in explaining his memories and thoughts. I think that so far this book is a good read. The relationship between him and Ms. Kinnian also sounds interesting, which leads me into a questions which is, Do you think that this bond will effect him and his mental state?
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AuthorPaola Toledo Real Archives
October 2018
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