Flowers+for+Algernon

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= Flowers for Algernon = //"P.S. please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard." ("Flowers for Algernon", Charlie Gordon, Pg. 311)//

[[image:dkeyespage.jpg]]
"Flowers for Algernon" was written by Daniel Keyes (shown above). Keyes was born in New York on August 9th, 1927. At the age of seventeen, Daniel joined the U.S. Maritime Service. In 1947, he enrolled in Brooklyn College, earning a B.A. in psychology in 1950. Keyes returned to Brooklyn College for post-graduate study in English and American literature. He received his M.A. degree and then went to Wayne State University to teach creative writing. In 1966, Daniel Keyes went to Ohio University and became the Professor of English and Creative Writing. Daniel began writing "Flowers for Algernon" in 1959. The original story was a short story, and the extended novel was begun in 1962 and was completed in 1965. The short story was first published in 1959; the extended novel in 1966. Brooklyn College awarded Keyes its 1988, "Distinguished Alumnus Medal of Honor." Daniel Keyes died on October 11th, 1995. Although Keyes has passed away, his memory and works live on. "Flowers for Algernon" has never been out of print and it remains a classic novel to this very day.

What's the Plot?
Charlie Gordon is a mentally retarded thirty-two year old man. He is chosen by Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss to be used in an experiment that will help his intelligence rate increase. This experiment has only been tested before on different lab animals, the most recent being the mouse Algernon. Surprisingly, the experiment is successful and Charlie's IQ triples. As the days go on, Charlie realizes that he is as separated from other individuals with super-human intelligence as he was when his intelligence rate was below average. Charlie also realizes that he has feelings for his old teacher, Alice Kinnian. Slowly, but surely, the outcome of the book becomes aware to the reader, and while they say "No! That can't happen!", the inevitable does occur. 

What Worked:
The best part about "Flowers for Algernon", is that it makes the reader think. One of the main themes in this novel is how the mentally disabled are treated. As the reader views Charlie's first progress reports, or rather, "progris riports", as he originally calls them, they are slightly shocked by how cruel Charlie's "friends" are to him. Speaking of these progress reports, they also added a lot to "Flowers for Algernon". The reader was able to see inside Charlie's head, and see things from his perspective. Daniel Keyes novel also evokes true emotion from the reader. After I read the first few reports, I felt like crying. I also wondered, //"Is society really that mean to those who are beneath them?"// At the end of the novel, I must admit that I did shed a few tears. Another theme that pops is, //"Life isn't fair."// The novel's ending seems so unfair, which is possibly what Daniel Keyes was intending. These two major themes, how the mentally disabled are treated and life isn't fair, and how the story is told, add a great deal to making this novel a brilliant one.



What Didn't Work:
In "Flowers for Algernon" is much sexual content. As I read about Charlie's nonexistent sex life, I couldn't help but wonder, "//Is this really necessary?"// There didn't seem to be any purpose by including the sexual content. The reader is already able to see how awkward and anxious Charlie is around the opposite sex by how he interacts with Alice Kinnian. Another irksome thing about the novel is that when Charlie finds the flaw in the experiment, //"This, finally, is the flaw in the experiment. I've found it." ("Flowers for Algernon, Gordon, Pg. 253),// the reader is never told what this flaw is! I eagerly continued reading to see what went wrong, and how Charlie discovered what had happened. But much to my disappointment, Daniel Keyes leaves the reader in the dark on this particular subject. If these two things could have been excluded and included in the novel, it would have been a better read.



--Literary Information--
Daniel Keyes "Flowers for Algernon" is a novel and his style is descriptive. Everything about the novel is described in detail from Charlie's perspective. Things that seem to be simple, such as Charlie's job at the Bakery, are given so much detail that they become more interesting as "Flowers for Algernon" continues. The tone of the novel varies depending on Charlie's mood. At the beginning it is oblivious, in the middle it is pressured, and at the end it is desperate. The changes in tone help the reader to decipher how Charlie is feeling at that particular moment. Descriptive novels tend to be more interesting, because the reader is able to picture what is happening better.

Why is this an Outstanding Book?
Daniel Keyes novel, "Flowers for Algernon", is an outstanding book because:
 * It provides a perspective on the mentally disabled that is normally not seen.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It evokes true emotion and pity for the different characters in the novel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It raises different questions about life, love, and desperation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It makes the reader think about how different yet similar below average intelligence and super-human intelligence are.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It creates a story that seems incredibly realistic.

<span style="color: #cf3fcf; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would I recommend "Flowers For Algernon"?
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Yes! I definitely would recommend this novel to anyone who is a freshman or older. Someone who is younger than a freshman could certainly read it, but I don't think that they would get the full grasp of it. "Flowers for Algernon" is truly a classic book that should be read by anyone who has the time. It raises different questions about society, and, in my opinion, very important questions about society. If this is how we treat those who have a lower intelligence level, then we really need to step back and think about what we're doing. Reading this novel helps someone to understand this key factor.

==<span style="color: #944794; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Below is a video clip from the made-for-television film "Flowers For Algernon" (2000) starring Matthew Modine and Kelli Williams. In this clip, Charlie is saying good-bye to Alice. ==
 * WARNING**: this occurs at the __END__ of the book!!!!!!*

media type="youtube" key="rkqCz73rLIg" height="344" width="425"

Works Cited:

 * 1) Keyes, Daniel. //"Flowers for Algernon."// Harcourt Books: 1966, 1959.
 * 2) "Flowers For Algernon - Charlie Says Goodbye to Alice". Youtube.com. 22, Jan. 2010. []
 * 3) Daniel Keyes Photo. 22, Jan. 2010. []
 * 4) Flowers for Algernon Photo. 22, Jan. 2010. []
 * 5) Flowers for Algernon Photo. 22, Jan. 2010.[]