Geschreven bij Flowers For Algernon
It is safe to say that Charlie Gordon with an IQ of only 68 is retarded. It is his dream to become smarter so that he can talk with his friends and have fun with them. Then, when a new experimental surgery to increase intelligence seems permanent on the laboratory mouse Algernon, Charlie is selected as the first human test subject.
‘Flowers for Algernon’ consists of the collected progress reports that Charlie Gordon writes throughout the experiment. The grammar and prose of the reports mirror his mental capacity, improving as his intelligence and awareness grow after the operation. This form of first-person narrative makes it very natural to identify with Charlie. Moreover, it facilitates in sweeping the reader along in the profound processes that he undergoes, like his sprouting ability to reflect on his thoughts and feelings, discovering emotions such as love and hate. As his understanding grows he starts to comprehend that his old friends were not really laughing with him, but at him. He is confronted by more and more resentment from the people around him that are intimidated by his newly acquired hyper-intelligence, and the resulting alienation is very convincingly portrayed. Charlie realizes that now, more than before the operation, he is alone. At moments like these and during the flashbacks to his uneasy childhood the story can be all but heartbreaking. And then, when Algernon’s behavior becomes increasingly lethargic and erratic, and he eventually dies, you share first-hand in the real sense of desperation and anxiety that Charlie’s newly acquired intelligence and personality might only be temporary.
‘Flowers for Algernon’ is a very appealing novel about gain and loss. It covers nearly the complete spectrum of human emotions and Daniel Keyes demonstrates great insight into the human psyche, effectively achieving to transfer Charlie’s emotions to the reader. However, most of all it is a moving tale that will stay on your mind long after finishing it.