Flowers for Algernon: Growth as an Individual

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Growth as an Individual Charlie, the protagonist of Flowers for Algernon, undergoes a surgical experiment to increase his exceptionally low I.Q. The experiment results in a complete change of life and person in Charlie, and he is able to experience and understand things that he would never have had the chance to otherwise. Eventually the experiment failed and Charlie’s mental capacity goes back to what it was before, but the experience for Charlie was definitely positive, as it let him grow as an individual. One of the first and most important changes in Charlie was his realization that the people he used to know as his good friends were cruel to him. He realizes that “they were laughing at me… Now I know what they mean when they say ‘to pull a Charlie Gordon.’ I’m ashamed” (Keyes 43). While in the moment of the epiphany he was unhappy, he was able to grow from it. He could break contact with those who didn’t treat him correctly. He is able to surround himself with the people who truly care about him and his well-being. Charlie realizes how badly his family treated him as well, but instead of making sure there is still distance between them, he decides to find them. After the meeting and reconciliation with his mother and especially his sister, he admitted, “unless I forgave Rosa, I will have nothing” (276). He knew all those bad experiences and memories were hurting him, and forgiveness would bring him peace. The meeting brought up many of those painful memories, but the reconciliation with his sister gave him the opportunity to make better memories now that they could become part of each other’s lives, even after the surgery would wear off. He got closure and perspective, and that continued after the effects of the surgery wore off. One of the biggest problems that he had with his family was his mother’s concern that Charlie was being inappropriate with

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