Flowers for Algernon:
The Pursuit For Artificial Intelligence
Daniel Keyes science-fiction novel Flowers for Algernon, first published in 1966, relates the story of Charlie Gordon through a diary (a collection of "progress reports") written by Charlie, a mentally-challenged man who via experimental brain surgery evolves into a genius. Although many scientist and researchers in today's highly technological age are striving for ways to increase the mental capacities of human beings through biological and artificial means, when Flowers for Algernon first appeared, such ideas were pure science-fiction. Yet despite Charlie's tragic outcome in the novel, it seems a wise idea to continue to pursue any and all means to increase the mental abilities of human beings, due in part to the need for highly-intelligent men and women who will confront unimagined conditions in the distant future.
At the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to Charlie in the first-person narrative, for he writes, in the language of a very simple-minded and obviously uneducated person, that "Dr. Strauss says I should rite down what I think. . . I don't no why but he says its important. . . I hope they use me becaus. . . maybe they can make me smart" ("progris riport 1, pg. 1). From Charlie's viewpoint, it appears that he considers being smart as a necessary trait for success in the world, not to mention that he equates intelligence with being loved and accepted by his peers. In the novel, Charlie's wish to be smart comes true, for Dr. Strauss and his team of scientist perform a brain operation on Charlie based on an experiment done on a mouse named Algernon. And within a few weeks, the operation turns out to be a complete success, for Charlie become more intelligent than the scientists that performed the operation.
However, with all of this artificial brilliance, Charlie soon discovers that intelligence comes with a price, for he finds that his co-workers...
Flowers for Algernon thus argues for mainstreaming, with added support, when viewed in the real-world context of childhood education of gifted or special needs children alike. It is not enough to look at a child's IQ when designing an appropriate curriculum. The child's temperament and emotional developmental milestones must be considered as well. Finally, another danger the story highlights is the tendency to expect too much of children with high
English Literature - Flowers for Algernon Though Flowers for Algernon is a fictionalized account, it addresses genuine issues, many of which are universal. Published in 1966, the novel reflects the less sensitive treatment of mentally disabled people during that time period. Allowing a unique perspective through the eyes of a man who lacks, gains, then loses genius, the novel is both tragic and inspirational, making definitive statements about high intelligence's great
Once "beneath" these men, Charlie was now above them and he feels as though they treat him as a thing rather than a human being. He cannot process what is happening to him and he withdraws from society because he is misunderstood and misunderstands. The danger of knowing too much rests squarely in knowing when things are awry. Retarded Charlie was not smart but he was not stressed and
Even if the initial consequences seem morally ambiguous in experiments like the one described in Flowers for Algernon, it would be foolish to assume that scientists should simply stop working. Scientific inquiry and experimentation do leave unfortunate casualties in their wake, but those setbacks seem small compared with the tremendous benefits that science also provides. Without experimentation and the willingness to play god every day, scientists would be unable to
The characters in all of the literary works discussed here experience the elation of rising above whatever ails them on earth, but then being forced to fall back down to the harsh reality that they can never seem to fully escape. Additionally, in each of the works discussed here, ignorant bliss is portrayed is preferable to stark clarity. The primary difference between the poems and Keyes' novel, however, is
shakespeare's, "The Taming of the Shrew" Katherine is made to wed Petruchio in order for a suitor to wed her younger more attractive sister, Bianca. Over the years there have been many adaptations of the play and even though it is a comedy, it still covers serious and all too somber subject matter. Women and their role in society has recently undergone a series of transformations. No longer are
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