Preview

Why Does Daniel Keyes Create An Antagonist In Flowers For Algernon

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
347 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Does Daniel Keyes Create An Antagonist In Flowers For Algernon
Question: How does Daniel Keyes create a protagonist and an antagonist within one character in the story?

In Flowers for Algernon, the developmentally disabled Charlie Gordon lives a very innocent life. However, Charlie is harshly treated by his coworkers and his mental superiors, causing him to be viewed as the protagonist of the story. Due to the fact that the story is written in the perspective of Charlie, the reader begins to develop a strong relationship with him. When Charlie catalogues his days, the reader discovers things that Charlie does not fully understand: “They gave me lots of drinks and Joe said Charlie is a card when hes potted. I think that means they like me” (Keyes 30). When Charlie is so clearly deceived by his
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Character Analysis: Flowers For Algernon
    • 96 Words
    • 1 Page

    Character Analysis: Flowers For Algernon

    Was it wise for Charlie Gordon from the book “Flowers for Algernon” by daniel keyes to get genetical intelligence surgically implanted in him? I believe that he should have got it regardless of the negative things that happened to him due to the surgery.…

    • 96 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Charlie Gordon's Decisions In Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon
    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Charlie Gordon's Decisions In Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon

    Making decisions is critical, but making a decision for an operation is more important. In the fiction novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, Charlie Gordon deals with a mental disorder. To be smarter, he decides to have a brain surgery. Animals have only done this surgery, particularly a lab rat named Algernon. Within a week after Charlie’s operation, he is able to maintain information improved. After a month, his intelligence becomes tremendous; he is able to read books within minutes. Negative effects have also altered him. His emotions are a continuous scale of unsteady. If his operation did not take place, he would have been better off. The negative effects that take place after his surgery are worse than his life before it took place. Charlie’s emotions would never be crazy, people would still enjoy his company, and he would be able to walk through his life without knowing his friends did not care about him.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Charlie Gordon In Flowers For Algernon
    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Who Is Charlie Gordon In Flowers For Algernon

    Daniel Keyes’ story, “Flowers for Algernon,” is the progress reports of 37 year old, Charlie Gordon, who gets a surgery to gain intelligence. Throughout the reports, you can see where Charlie intellectually starts and his progress from there. Then, unfortunately, Charlie’s intelligence descends and he’s back where he started. The story teaches you that too much of anything is unhealthy.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jasper Jones Charlie's Relationship Quotes
    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jasper Jones Charlie's Relationship Quotes

    As the novel progresses Charlie begins to evolve into a mature adolescent. Jasper’s influence on Charlie—whether it is from having his first swig of alcohol or changing and broadening his perspective on moral code—is a major element to Charlie’s understanding, as is discovery, mainly of the hypocrisy that runs through the town. Major honorable figures are soon seen as disgraceful citizens who contain contradictory morals, which co-exist nevertheless.…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Daniel Keyes 'Flowers For Algernon'
    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Daniel Keyes 'Flowers For Algernon'

    Scientists are developing ways to edit the DNA of tomorrow’s children. In the short story “Flowers for Algernon”, by Daniel Keyes, there is an intellectually disabled man named Charlie Gordon that is also going to operated on to promote his intelligence. As informed scientists are developing ways to edit the DNA of babies. That means that people are making their babies with requested traits: intelligence, eye color, athleticism, and disease prevention. They are known as designer babies. As informed, scientists are developing ways to edit the DNA of babies. That means that people are developing ways to edit the DNA of babies That means that people are making their babies with requested traits: intelligence, eye color, athleticism, and disease prevention. They are known as designer babies. A designer baby is someone who has been genetically engineered in vitro for pre-selected traits in a glass petri-dish, very from lowering the risk of a genetic disorder to gender selection. It is not okay to change humans by artificial means.…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing Flowers For Algernon And Holes
    • 1301 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Comparing Flowers For Algernon And Holes

    When Charlie was young Rose Gordon wanted him to become smart. She tried her hardest to get him smarter, but it did not work. She even forced him to see doctors and into normal schools. After getting fed-up with Charlie, Charlie was separated when she randomly had a knife in her hand demanding Matt Gordon, the father, to take him to the Warren State Home immediately. But instead, Matt sent him to his Uncle Herman, the uncle of Charlie who took care of him since he was young who unfortunately died. Zero’s mother was also missing by an unknown reason. These characters relate to each other because each of them ends up finding their mothers close to the end of the book. Charlie returned to his childhood home which was a pleasant surprise. At first Rose thought he was the bill holder, but soon realized that he was her son. She got startled by her son's appearance, and she tries to send him away. Charlie pushes against the door, breaking the glass and cutting his hand. Rose grabbed a knife and held it towards Charlie because she thought Charlie was having sexual emotions with Norma Gordon, the sister. Charlie ran out and never came back. As for Zero’s re-unite with his mother was a nice ending. Zero, out of the camp waits for his mother in a bus which is the opposite of what happened with Charlie. All in all, the books Flowers for Algernon…

    • 1301 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ignorance In Daniel Keyes 'Flowers For Algernon'
    • 153 Words
    • 1 Page

    Ignorance In Daniel Keyes 'Flowers For Algernon'

    “Laideezzz and gentulmennnnnn. Step right this way and see the side show! An act never before seen in the scientific world! A mouse and a moron turn into geniuses before your very eyes!” Greater intelligence does not equal greater happiness. In the science fiction novel, Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes takes us on an adventure through a world where the statement “Ignorance is bliss,” could not be more true. Charlie Gordon was born mentally retarded, with an IQ of 68 at the age of 32. He undergoes a life-changing scientific procedure that skyrockets his IQ to 180. As his intelligence increases, he realizes that the friendships he had with people he cared about were false, and with intelligence, comes the heavy burden of societal norms. Although…

    • 153 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Charlie Gordon Character Analysis
    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Charlie Gordon Character Analysis

    He eventually convinces himself of feeling indifference even to Alice Kinnian, the only one person, whom has never betrayed Charlie and the only one, for whom he has maintained a deep affection throughout the life. And Algernon is the sole Charlie’s faithful companion, whom he shows concern for and treats as equal sentient being. Obviously, Charlie is the personification of Algernon to a certain extent. Both feeling caged up and forced to run through endless mazes at the scientists’ whim, with no dignity and no individuality, Charlie and Algernon are looking for the way to the physical liberation and their own emotional…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Argumentative Essay: Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon
    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Argumentative Essay: Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon

    Charlie Gordon should not have been the subject of the experiment. While Daniel Keyes in “Flowers for Algernon” portrayed hope for a mentally impaired man, Charlie Gordon, the operation failed with devastating consequences! Before the surgery, Charlie desperately longed to be a member of a society that he was unable to completely comprehend. Charlie, as a genius, was permitted to witness the horrendous actions towards those with mental ailments. Additionally, Charlie was viewed as an experiment, deserving no rights or respect. After the surgery, once again could not relate and function normally in society, which was his only desire. Lastly, Charlie, the genius, understood that the effects of the surgery were, unfortunately, temporary. Through Charlie’s investigation of Algernon’s life, it became apparent that the operation was a failure. Although Charlie enjoyed his time of being a genius, he was saddened to see how society truly was.…

    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Multiple Themes In Charlie Gordon's Flowers For Algernon
    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Multiple Themes In Charlie Gordon's Flowers For Algernon

    Overall, I firmly believe that the best theme for “Flowers for Algernon” is that too much of a good thing can end up being bad. In the end, you can look at it two ways… either Charlie died or he simply moved away. “Goodbye Miss Kinnian and Dr. Strauss and evreybody.” (pg. 215) The point is, his happy-ever-after ending never happened. His brain couldn’t keep the new intelligence in his mind, therefore, it began to wash away. I think that my choice of theme works best with this…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Charlie And Algernon Quote Analysis
    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Charlie And Algernon Quote Analysis

    To conclude, the operation that Charlie went through in “Flowers for Algernon” was nothing but bad. Charlie did have a couple weeks to feel almost normal (almost meaning he was smarter than everyone around him, making him feel less normal) but that ended quite quickly, possibly killing him. Charlie even came close to suicide during his downward spiral. This is my opinion on the theme for “Flowers for…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    A Close Reading of "Jasper Jones"
    • 1159 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A Close Reading of "Jasper Jones"

    Charlie’s inner conflict to determine his attitude contrasts with his father’s demeanor. Speaking to him in a language that is reserved for ones associate or friend, or someone of equal status, he gives a balance of concern and respect for his son, who’s own guilt alludes to the idea that Charlie feels eventually guilty for his immature behavior. His father’s language becomes very persuasive and through his thoughts Charlie expresses his desire for this relationship of equality to endure, stating “I want him to keep talking to me like this. Like a contemporary. A colleague. Like I’m smart enough to keep up.” (pg. 135). Although he wishes for the relationship of understanding to continue, Charlie instead insists on acting childishly, even though he seems to resent his behavior himself, saying “It’s not fair at all. But I don’t care,” (pg. 136) speaking in a way that mostly…

    • 1159 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Daniel Keyes Mistreating People With Mental Disabilities
    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Daniel Keyes Mistreating People With Mental Disabilities

    One of the most important issue that Daniel Keyes wants to convey is mistreating people with mental disability. In this story, Charlie believes that Joe and Frank were his friends and believes that they liked him; however, Joe and Frank were using Charlie for the sake of their own entertainment by misleading him to do which aren’t healthy, for example, mixing drugs or dose of medicine in his drink, leaving him alone in the night time, and later lying that the police had beaten him up. This shows us how people who don’t have mental disability try to take advantage and mistreat those who have one. In our real world, everybody isn’t nice, people try to lure each other for their own sake and advantages; additionally people like to make fun of disabled people and belittle them for whom they are, just how the people at Charlie’s work did.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Using Daniel Keyes, "Flowers for Algernon". This essay shows the trouble, prejudice, and hardships that the mentally challenged face.
    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Using Daniel Keyes, "Flowers for Algernon". This essay shows the trouble, prejudice, and hardships that the mentally challenged face.

    Along with prejudice, Charlie, was also maltreated by his 'so-called' friends and many other people, including his own mother. Rose, Charlie's mother, wanted so much for Charlie to learn and become somebody in life and she did not want to accept that he was mentally challenged. This was not really helping him much.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Short Story and Premium Hero Essay
    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Short Story and Premium Hero Essay

    English Essay- Is Charlie Gordon A Hero? Daniel Keys wrote the short story Flowers for Algernon in 1958. The story took over 14 years to develop. He did not have a...…

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics