Flowers for Algernon
Summary
Charlie Gordon, a mentally challenged thirty-two-year-old man, is chosen by a team of scientists to undergo an experimental surgery designed to boost his intelligence. Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s teacher at the Beekman College Center for Mentally challenged Adults, has recommended Charlie for the experiment because of his exceptional eagerness to learn. The directors of the experiment, Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur, ask Charlie to keep a journal. The entire narrative of Flowers for Algernon is composed of the “progress reports” that Charlie writes.
Character analysis
- Charlie Gordon. The protagonist of the story who authors the writings or "progress reports" throughout the book.
- Algernon. The white laboratory mouse who was the original test of the experiment that was later performed on Charlie.
Theme
I believe the theme of Flowers for Algernon explains how one's intelligence doesn't define a person's happiness. The main character, Charlie, is an ambitious and friendly retarded adult whose only wish is to be smart like his mother wanted him to be.
Conflict
Man vs. Self Charlie is mentally challenged. The resolution is that Charlie try's an experiment to make himself smarter
Book review
I give this book 4 stars out of 5 just because it never got boring and u didn't want to stop reading. It was overall a very good book
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (Book Summary and Review) - Minute Book Report