Flowers for Algernon is a touching story about a man named Charlie, chosen for an experiment that offers him the opportunity to become “smart”, 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.
Flowers for Algernon Character Development in a Character Map graphic organizer
Storyboard Text
CHARLIE
Quote:
How Charlie feels about himself:
Important Traits:
32 years old; has an I.Q. of 68 that increses to 185 by an operation; emotionally immature; feels a connection to Algernon, who had the same surgery; has an overwhelming desire to learn and “become smart”
Charlie wants to get smart, because he feels there is something wrong with him. As his intelligence increases, he feels superior to those around him, but also isolated and lonely.
“Burt kept saying Alice Kinnian feels he has an overwhelm** desir to lern. He aktually beggd to be used. And thats true because I wanted to be smart.”