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drratiosstudent · 5 months ago

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My Favourite Quotes from Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

*Just a list of my favourite quotes*

*I'll put all my fav quotes in the future under #WinterLEFavQuotes*

*Spoiler alert*

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A child may not know how to feed itself, or what to eat, yet it knows hunger.

How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes - how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence.

But even as I write these words, something inside shouts that there is more. I'm a person. I was somebody before I went under the surgeon's knife. And I have to love someone.

Is that my worry? What's right? Ironic that all my intelligence doesn't help me solve a problem like this.

"But I'm not an inanimate object," I argued. “I’m a person.”

They would always find excuses to slip away, afraid to reveal the narrowness of their knowledge.

How different they seem to be now. And how foolish I was ever to have thought that professors were intellectual giants. They're people-and afraid the rest of the world will find out. And Alice is a person too-a woman, not a goddess-and I'm taking her to the concert tomorrow night.

There was nothing more to say, to her or to the rest of them. None of them would look into my eyes. I can still feel the hostility. Before, they had laughed at me, despising me for my ignorance and dullness; now, they hated me for my knowledge and understanding. Why? What in God's name did they want of me?

This intelligence has driven a wedge between me and all the people I knew and loved, driven me out of the bakery. Now, I'm more alone than ever before. I wonder what would happen if they put Algernon back in the big cage with some of the other mice. Would they turn against him?

So this is how a person can come to despise himself--knowing he's doing the wrong thing and not being able to stop.

"I don't know. I'm like an animal who's been locked out of his nice, safe cage.

"I'm a person -a man-and I cant live with just books and tapes and electronic mazes. You say, 'see other women.' How can I when I don't know any other women? Something inside is burning me up, and all I know is it makes me think of you. I'm in the middle of a page and I see your face on it- not blurred like those in my past, but clear and alive. I touch the page and your face is gone and I want to tear the book apart and throw it away."

I still hear her. But perhaps I had been released. Maybe the fear and nausea was no longer a sea to drown in, but only a pool of water reflecting the past alongside the now. Was I free?

Strauss again brought up my need to speak and write simply and directly so that people will understand me. He reminds me that language is sometimes a barrier instead of a pathway. Ironic to find myself on the other side of the intellectual fence.

I realize now that my feeling for Alice had been moving backward against the current of my learning, from worship, to love, to fondness, to a fecling of gratitude and responsibility. My confused feeling for her had been holding me back, and I had clung to her out of my fear of being forced out on my own, and cut adrift. But with the freedom came a sadness. I wanted to be in love with her. I wanted to overcome my emotional and sexual fears, to marry, have children, settle down. Now it's impossible. I am just as far away from Alice with an I.Q. of 185 as I was when I had an I.Q. of 70. And this time we both know it.

But even more frightening is the feeling that I wanted them to catch me and beat me. Why did I want to be punished? Shadows out of the past clutch at my legs and drag me down. I open my mouth to scream, but I am voiceless. My hands are trembling, I feel cold, and there is a distant humming in my ears.

It may sound like ingratitude, but that is one of the things that I resent here--the attitude that I am a guinea pig. Nemur's constant references to having made me what I am, or that someday there will be others like me who will become real human beings.

How can I make him understand that he did not create me?

He makes the same mistake as the others when they look at a feeble-minded person and laugh because they don't understand there are human feelings involved. He doesn't realize that I was a person before I came here.

"You've got a superb mind now, intelligence that can't really be calculated, more knowledge absorbed by now than most people pick up in a long lifetime. But you're lopsided. You know things. You see things. But you haven't developed understanding, or-I have to use the word-tolerance. You call them phonies, but when did either of them ever claim to be perfect, or superhuman? They're ordinary people. You're the genius."

But still it's frightening to realize that my fate is in the hands of men who are not the giants I once thought them to be, men who don't know all the answers.

I’m a human being, a person-with parents and memories and a history- and I was before you ever wheeled me into that operating room!

-------

He's like all the other children.

He's a good boy,

-------

I see now that when Norma flowered in our garden I became a weed, allowed to exist only where I would not be seen, in corners and dark places.

Seeing her face in the newspaper, I suddenly hated her. It would have been better if she had ignored the doctors and teachers and others who were so in a hurry to convince her that I was a moron, turning her away from me so that she gave me less love when I needed more.

The room dark, except for the thin line of yellow light from the door ajar that penetrates the darkness to join both worlds. And he hears things, not understanding but feeling, because the rasp of their voices is linked to their talk of him. More and more, each day, he comes to associate that tone with a frown when they speak of him.

"I guess we all sneer at something. You're sneering at the phonies and dilettantes, aren't you?"

Then, in a sudden intuition, right outside the Keno Amusement Center, I knew it wasn't the movies I wanted, but the audiences. I wanted to be with the people around me in the darkness.

The walls between people are thin here, and if I listen quietly, I hear what is going on. Greenwich Village is like that too. Not just being close-because I don't feel it in a crowded elevator or on the subway during the rush--but on a hot night when everyone is out walking, or sitting in the theater, there is a rustling, and for a moment I brush against someone and sense the connection between the branch and trunk and the deep root. At such moments my flesh is thin and tight, and the unbearable hunger to be part of it drives me out to search in the dark corners and blind alleys of the night.

How could I tell him? What was I supposed to say? Here, look at me, I'm Charlie, the son you wrote off the books? Not that I blame you for it, but here I am, all fixed up better than ever. Test me. Ask me questions. I speak twenty languages, living and dead; I'm a mathematical whiz, and I'm writing a piano concerto that will make them remember me long after I'm gone. How could I tell him? How absurd I was sitting in his shop, waiting for him to pat me on the head and say, "Good boy."

"Shut up! Leave him alone! He can’t understand. He can't help what he is….. but for God's sake, have some respect! He’s a human being!"

Only a short time ago, I learned that people laughed at me. Now I can see that unknowingly I joined them in laughing at myself. That hurts most of all.

I have often reread my early progress reports and seen the illiteracy, the childish naiveté, the mind of low intelligence peering from a dark room, through the keyhole, at the dazzling light outside. In my dreams and memories I've seen Charlie smiling happily and uncertainly at what people around him were saying. Even in my dullness I knew I was inferior. Other people had something I lacked - something denied me. In my mental blindness, I had believed it was somehow connected with the ability to read and write, and I was sure that if I could get those skills I would have intelligence too.

Even a feeble-minded man wants to be like other men.

There had been no talk of rehabilitation, of cure, of someday sending these people out into the world again. No one had spoken of hope. The feeling was of living death -or worse, of never having been fully alive and knowing. Souls withered from the beginning, and doomed to stare into the time and space of every day.

I wondered about the house-mother with her red-blotched face, and the stuttering shop teacher, and the motherly principal, and youthful tired-looking psychologist, and wished I knew how they had found their way here to work and dedicate themselves to these silent minds. Like the boy who held the younger one in his arms, each had found a fulfillment in giving away a part of himself to those who had less.

If I can find that out, and if it adds even one jot of information to whatever else has been discovered about mental retardation and the possibility of helping others like myself, I will be satisfied. Whatever happens to me, I will have lived a thousand normal lives by what I might add to others not yet born.

Incredible that anything could happen to take away this bubbling energy, the zest that fills everything I do. Its as if all the knowledge I've soaked in during the past months has coalesced and lifted me to a peak of light and understanding. This is beauty, love, and truth all rolled into one. This is joy. And now that I've found it, how can I give it up? Life and work are the most wonderful things a man can have. I am in love with what I am doing, because the answer to this problem is right here in my mind, and soon--very soon--it will burst into consciousness. Let me solve this one problem. I pray God it is the answer I want, but if not I will accept any answer at all and try to be grateful for what I had.

"No one really starts anything new, Mrs. Nemur. Everyone builds on other men's failures. There is nothing really original in science. What each man contributes to the sum of knowledge is what counts."

"The point I've been trying to make is that this money is intended for research. No one can ever know in advance if a project is going to result in something useful. Results are often negative. We learn what something is not-and that is as important as a positive discovery to the man who is going to pick up from there. At least he knows what not to do."

"Since when is a guinea pig supposed to be grateful?" I shouted. "I've served your purposes, and now I'm trying to work out your mistakes, so how the hell does that make me indebted to anyone?"

"I've learned a lot in the past few months," I said. "Not only about Charlie Gordon, but about life and people, and I've discovered that nobody really cares about Charlie Gordon, whether he's a moron or a genius. So what difference does it make?"

"Oh," laughed Nemur. "You're feeling sorry for yourself. What did you expect? This experiment was calculated to raise your intelligence, not to make you popular. We had no control over what happened to your personality, and you've developed from a likeable, retarded young man into an arrogant, self-centered, antisocial bastard

"The problem, dear professor, is that you wanted someone who could be made intelligent but still be kept in a cage and displayed when necessary to reap the honors you seek. The hitch is that I'm a person."

He was angry, and I could see he was torn between ending the fight and trying once more to beat me down. "You're being unfair, as usual. You know we've always treated you well--done everything we could for you."

"Everything but treat me as a human being. You've boasted time and again that I was nothing before the experiment, and I know why. Because if I was nothing, then you were responsible for creating me, and that makes you my lord and master. You resent the fact that I don't show my gratitude every hour of the day. Well, believe it or not, I am grateful. But what you did for me-wonderful as it-doesn't give you the right to treat me like an experimental animal. I'm an individual now, and so was Charlie before he ever walked into that lab. You look shocked! Yes, suddenly we discover that I was always a person-even before--and that challenges your belief that someone with an I.Q. of less than 100 doesn't deserve consideration. Professor Nemur, I think when you look at me your conscience bothers you."

"You've become cynical," said Nemur. "That's all this opportunity has meant to you. Your genius has destroyed your faith in the world and in your fellow men.'

"That's not completely true," I said softly. "But I've learned that intelligence alone doesn't mean a damned thing. Here in your university, intelligence, education, knowledge, have all become great idols. But I know now there's one thing you've all overlooked: intelligence and education that hasn't been tempered by human affection isn'tworth a damn."

"Intelligence is one of the greatest human gifts. But all too often a search for knowledge drives out the search for love. This is something else I've discovered for myself very recently. I present it to you as a hypothesis: Intelligence without the ability to give and receive affection leads to mental and moral breakdown, to neurosis, and possibly even psychosis. And I say that the mind absorbed in and involved in itself as a self-centered end, to the exclusion of human relationships, can only lead to violence and pain.

"When I was retarded I had lots of friends. Now I have no one.

As long as I am able to write, I will continue to put down my thoughts and ideas in these progress reports. It is one of my few solitary pleasures and is certainly necessary to the completion of this research. However, by all indications, my own mental deterioration will be quite rapid. I have checked and rechecked my data a dozen times in hope of finding an error, but I am sorry to say the results must stand. Yet, I am grateful for the little bit that I here add to the knowledge of the function of the human mind and of the laws governing the artificial increase of human intelligence.

The other night Dr. Strauss was saying that an experimental failure, the disproving of a theory, was as important to the advancement of learning as a success would be. I know now that this is true. I am sorry, however, that my own contribution to the field must rest upon the ashes of the work of this staff, and especially those who have done so much for me.

With all the things I had learned-in all the languages I had mastered-all I could say to her, standing on the porch staring at me, was, "Manna." Like a dry-mouthed lamb at the udder.

"Don't go away," I begged. "Don’t run away from me.”

And then looking up from the table, it seems to me I saw myself, through Charlie's eyes, holding Paradise Lost, and I realized I was breaking the binding with the pressure of both hands as if I wanted to tear the book in half. I broke the back of it, ripped out a handful of pages, and flung them and the book across the room to the corner where the broken records were. I let it lay there and its torn white tongues were laughing because I couldn't understand what they were saying.

I've got to try to hold onto some of the things I've learned. Please, God, don't take it all away.

Last night I couldn't remember where I lived. A policeman took me home. I have the strange feeling that this has all happened to me before-a long time ago.

Instead of walking I was floating through space, not clear and sharp, but with a gray film over everything. I know what's happening to me, but there is nothing I can do about it. I walk, or just stand on the sidewalk and watch people go by. Some of them look at me, and some of them don't but nobody says anything to me-except one night a man came up and asked if I wanted a girl. He took me to a place. He wanted ten dollars first and I gave it to him, but he never came back.

And then I remembered what a fool I was.

But why am I so irritable? Especially when Alice is so good to me? She keeps the place neat and clean, always putting my things away and washing dishes and scrubbing floors. I shouldn't have shouted at her the wav I did this morning because it made her cry, and I didn't want that to happen. But she shouldn't have picked up the broken records and the music and the book and put them all neatly into a box. That made me furious. I don't want anyone to touch any of those things. I want to see them pile up. I want them to remind me of what I'm leaving behind.

I kicked the box and scattered the stuff all over the floor and told her to leave them just where they were.

When she went to the bedroom and cried I felt bad about it and I told her it was all my fault. I don't deserve someone as good as her. Why can't I control myself just enough to keep on loving her? Just enough.

Why am I always looking at life through a window? And after it's all over I'm sick with myself because there is so little time left for me to read and write and think, and because I should know better than to drug my mind with this dishonest stuff that's aimed at the child in me. Especially me, because the child in me is reclaiming my mind.

I know all this, but when Alice tells me I shouldn't waste my time, I get angry and tell her to leave me alone.

I have a feeling I'm watching because it's important for me not to think, not to remember about the bakery, and my mother and father, and Norma. I don't want to remember any more of the past.

First I thought there was something wrong with my eyes. Then I realized I could no longer read German. Tested myself in other languages. All gone.

Just leave me alone. I'm not myself. I'm falling apart, and I don't want you here.

(The first mistake during regression, the whole entry… made my heart break into pieces) November 1-A week since I dared to write again. I don't know where the time goes. Todays Sunday I know because I can see through my window the people going into the church across the street. I think laid in bed all week but I remember Mrs. Mooney bringing me food a few times and asking if I was sick

I know I should have written some progress reports before this so they will know whats happening to me. But writing is harder. I have to look up even simple words in the dictionary now and it makes me angry with myself.

I dont know any work but the job I use to do at the bakery. I dont want to go back their because they all knew me when I was smart and maybe theyll laff at me. But I dont know what else to do to get money. And I want to pay for everything myself. I am strong and I can werk. If I cant take care of myself Ill go to Warren. I wont take charety from anybody.

Mrs Mooney told me Alice brout some more money to look after me and for the rent. I dont want that. I got to get a job.

Please….. please…. dont let me forget how to reed and rite...

I said to myself Charlie if they make fun of vou dont get sore because you remember their not so smart like you once thot they were. And besides they were once your frends and if they laffed at you that dont mean anything because they liked you to.

Later Gimpy came over limping on his bad foot and he said Charlie if anyone bothers you or trys to take advantage you call me or Joe or Frank and we will set him strait. We all want you to remember that you got frends here and dont you ever forget it. I said thanks Gimpy. That makes me feel good.

Its good to have frends...

Thats why Im going away from here for good to the Warren Home school. I dont want to do nothing like that agen. I dont want Miss Kinnian to feel sorry for me. I know evrybody feels sorry for me at the bakery and I dont want that ether so Im going someplace where they are a lot of other pepul like me and nobody cares that Charlie Gordon was once a genus and now he cant even reed a book or rite good.

Im taking a cuple of books along and even if I cant reed them Ill practise hard and mabye Ill even get a littel bit smarter then I was before the operashun without an opcrashun. I got a new rabits foot and a luky penny and even a littel bit of that majic powder left and mabye they will help me.

If you ever reed this Miss Kinnian dont be sorry for me. Im glad I got a second chanse in life like you said to be smart because I lerned alot of things that I never even new were in this werld and Im grateful I saw it all even for a lit- tel bit. And Im glad I found out all about my family and me. It was like I never had a family til I remembird about them and saw them and now I know I had a family and I was a person just like evryone. I dont no why Im dumb agen or what I did rong. Mabye its because I dint try hard enuf or just some body put the evel eye on me. But if I try and practis very hard mabye Ill get a littel smarter and no what all the words are. I remembir a littel bit how nice I had a feeling with che blue book that I red with the toren cover. And when I close my eyes I think about the man who tored the book and he looks like me only he looks different and he calls different but I dont think its me because its like I see him from the window.

Anyway that why Im gone to keep trying to get smart so I can have that feeling agen. Its good to no things and be smart and I wish I new evrything in the hole world. I wish I coud be smart agen rite now. If I coud I woud sit down and reed all the time.

Strange about learning; the farther I go the more I see that I never knew even existed. A short while ago I foolishly thought I could learn everything--all the knowledge in the world. Now I hope only to be able to know of its existence, and to understand one grain of it.

Is there time?

"I think I've changed during these weeks away from the lab." I said. "I couldn't see how to do it at first, but tonight, while I was wandering around the city, it came to me. The foolish thing was trying to solve the problem all by myself. But the deeper I get tangled up in this mass of dreams and memories the more I realize that emotional problems can't be solved as intellectual problems are.

That's what I discovered about myself last night. I told myself I was wandering around like a lost soul, and then I saw that I was lost.

"Somehow I've become separated emotionally from everyone and everything. And what I was really searching for out there in the dark streets--the last damned place I could ever find it-was a way to make myself a part of people again emotionally, while still retaining my freedom

—

And I listened, pretending I understood but inside I was afraid she would see that I missed the point completely.

"So do I. But these days I can't talk to you. All I can do is listen and nod my head and pretend I understand all about cultural variants, and neo-Boulean mathematics, and post-symbolic logic, and I feel more and more stupid, and when you leave the apartment, I have to stare in the mirror and scream at myself.

'No, you're not growing duller every day! You're not losing your intelligence! You're not getting senile and dull-witted. Its Charlie exploding forward so quickly that it makes it appear as if you're slipping backwards.' I say that to myself, Charlie, but whenever we meet and you tell me something and look at me in that impatient way, I know you're laughing.

"And when you explain things to me, and I can't remember them, you think it's because I'm not interested and don't want to take the trouble. But you don't know how I torture myself when you're gone. You don't know the books I've struggled over, the lectures I've sat in on at Beekman, and yet whenever I talk about something, I see how impatient you are, as if it were all childish. I wanted you to be intelligent. I wanted to help you and share with you- and now you've shut me out of your life."

"Oh, how insufferable you've become. How do you know what I feel?You take liberties with other people's minds. You can't tell how I feel or what I feel or why I feel."

I'm on the edge of it. I sense it. They all think I'm killing myself at this pace, but what they don't understand is that I'm living at a peak of clarity and beauty I never knew existed. Every part of me is attuned to the work. I soak it up into my pores during the day, and night--in the moments before I pass off into sleep-ideas explode into my head like fireworks. There is no greater joy than the burst of solution to a problem.

#flowers for algernon #quotes #literature #book quotes #book #books #Daniel keyes #WinterLEFavQuotes

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glenrocklibraryteens · 1 year ago

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Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Book Review: Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Genres: Science fiction, psychological fiction Page count: 336 Rating: 4 stars

The story follows Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who’s staying in a mental research facility/care center. Because of his interest in learning, he’s chosen by a team of scientists to undergo an experimental surgery designed to boost his intelligence. The directors of the experiment, Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur, ask Charlie to keep a journal which becomes the narrative/style that the novel is composed of: “progress reports” that he writes. The directors of the experiment decided to find a human subject based on the mouse subject they had tested on which showed excellent results. However, as the experiment goes on, we see the drastic changes and final outcome of the experiment.

As someone who doesn’t regularly read a lot of science fiction except for H.G. Wells here and there, Flowers for Algernon was relatively my first genuine dive into the genre. At first, I didn’t care for the progress report style of the writing, especially as it starts with Charlie writing almost incoherently. However, as the book goes on it’s absolutely fascinating to see the change in his intellect, in not only his writing and grammar but his thoughts. He starts questioning things and people around him, even growing to have relationships with the people around him. I won’t spoil anything drastic but he also becomes a functioning person in society and even beyond that. That’s by far my favorite aspect of the novel, and I genuinely believe the author did a beautiful job at illustrating that. Overall, it is a heavy book in many instances ending up leaving me completely speechless-but it’s extremely interesting and unique.

Flowers for Algernon Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gmyFoyGTUEBEetgPvGMQL?si=V8_AB6Z8RP6KA8cpEAW7Lg&pi=u-4q5xir6xTAi-

Where is my mind? By The Pixies

This song describes the psychological confusion Charlie feels throughout most of the book. With the title alone, you can empathize with him.

Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead

This song sung by Thom Yorke I feel perfectly evokes the atmosphere of the novel.

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

This song perfectly describes the feelings Charlie must have felt for Alice in the novel. The lyrics display this in a lot of the lyrics.

Creep by Radiohead

This song is probably the song that represents Charlie the best overall. The song talks ab feeling different and weird compared to everyone else around them. It also talks about not knowing what their purpose is or why they’re on earth in the first place.

Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground

The simple description of emotions and the innocently semi-cheery mood of the song both are very accurate to Charlie’s personality and intellect.

The Only Thing by Sufjan Stevens

Again, I feel like Sufjan Stevens’ music perfectly represents Charlie’s romantic feelings: lovelorn and longing.

Not a lot, just forever by Adrienne Lenker

This song evokes, as well as embodies, the lovelorn feeling I was describing earlier that Charlie must have been feeling.

As the world caves in by Matt Maltese

The sense of dread but also acceptance in this song of his demise embodies what Charlie must have been feeling towards the mid-end of the novel.

What was I made for? By Billie Eilish

With the title alone, you can feel the confusion Charlie was feeling about his purpose on Earth as the course of the story went on.

How to disappear completely by Radiohead

This song by Radiohead, with its mood, instrumental, and lyrics, represents the mood of the novel at the end. It also embodies what Charlie was feeling towards the end.

#book review #fiction

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roamanddiscover · 2 years ago

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Flowers for Algernon Book Summary

Flowers for Algernon Book Summary

Daniel Keyes' novel, Flowers for Algernon, tells the story of Charlie Gordon, a man with an intellectual disability who undergoes an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. The novel is written in the form of progress reports, which Charlie writes to document his cognitive progress. As his intelligence increases, Charlie becomes more aware of the world around him, but also becomes isolated from his former life. The main character, Charlie, is a sympathetic and complex character who struggles to fit in with those around him. As his intelligence grows, he begins to understand the people and events in his life in new ways, but also begins to feel disconnected from those he once considered friends. Along the way, he encounters characters such as Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur, who conduct the experiment, and Alice Kinnian, Charlie's teacher who helps him before and after the surgery. The novel raises important ethical questions about human experimentation and the nature of intelligence, and themes of isolation and alienation are explored in depth. Flowers for Algernon has been praised by readers and critics alike for its thought-provoking themes and emotional impact. The book won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966 and continues to be popular and relevant today. Originally published as a short story in 1958, Flowers for Algernon was later expanded into a full-length novel in 1966. Since then, it has been adapted into several films and stage productions, with discussions underway for a TV series. At Goodreads, the novel has a rating of 4.09 out of 5 stars, based on over 429,000 ratings and more than 20,000 reviews. It is a classic of science fiction and literature, and continues to resonate with readers today. Flowers for Algernon Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores complex themes and raises important questions about the human experience. The novel tells the story of Charlie Gordon, a man with an intellectual disability who participates in an experiment to increase his intelligence. The novel is told through a series of progress reports written by Charlie, providing readers with a unique insight into his thoughts and emotions as he undergoes the experimental surgery. As Charlie's intelligence increases, he must grapple with new challenges and insights, including the nature of his relationships with others and the ethical questions surrounding the experiment. One of the most important themes of Flowers of Algernon is the nature of intelligence, including the ways in which it is measured and valued by society. The novel also explores the treatment of people with intellectual disabilities in society, raising important questions about inclusion, access to education and healthcare, and the pursuit of individual happiness. The novel has received widespread critical acclaim for its engaging characters, powerful themes, and emotional impact. It has won multiple awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966, and has been adapted into several films and stage productions. Despite being first published in 1958, Flowers for Algernon remains relevant and popular today. Discussions are ongoing about adapting the novel into a TV series, and the novel continues to be read and studied in schools and universities around the world. Flowers for Algernon is a classic of science fiction and literature, notable for its exploration of complex themes and its examination of the human condition. Whether readers are looking for an engaging story or a thought-provoking exploration of the ethics and limits of human experimentation, this novel has much to offer. by Daniel Keyes is a novel about a man with an intellectual disability who participates in an experiment to increase his intelligence. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the human condition and the nature of intelligence. The story follows Charlie Gordon, a man with an IQ of 68, who volunteers for an experimental surgery in the hopes of increasing his intelligence. The novel is told through a series of progress reports written by Charlie himself, which offer a unique glimpse into his thoughts, emotions, and personal growth throughout the experiment. As Charlie's intelligence increases, he grapples with new challenges, including social isolation, academic pressure, and complex ethical questions surrounding the experiment itself. Despite its focus on science fiction and human experimentation, Flowers for Algernon is ultimately a deeply human story, exploring themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning and connection in a complex and often confusing world. The novel has been widely praised for its engaging characters, richly detailed setting, and emotional impact. Its exploration of themes such as disability and mental health continue to resonate with readers today, and the book's enduring popularity has sparked discussions about adapting the story for new audiences. Flowers for Algernon remains a timeless classic of science fiction and literature, offering a profound meditation on the human condition and the power of the human mind to adapt and grow in the face of adversity.

Book Description

Flowers for Algernon is a novel that tells the story of Charlie Gordon, a man who has an intellectual disability and an IQ of 68. The novel is written in the form of progress reports that Charlie writes before and after undergoing an experimental surgery that is meant to increase his intelligence. Charlie's progress reports provide insight into his emotions, thoughts, and experiences as he navigates the world with increased intelligence. As his intelligence grows, he learns to read and write at an advanced level, completes complex mathematical problems, and develops a deeper understanding of the world around him. Throughout the novel, Charlie's relationships with those around him change as a result of his increased intelligence. He becomes close to his teacher Alice Kinnian, who helped him prepare for the surgery, but also becomes frustrated with those who cannot keep up with his new level of understanding. The novel raises ethical questions about the limits of human experimentation and the consequences of altering one's intelligence. As Charlie's intelligence grows and his understanding deepens, he experiences isolation and alienation from those who cannot keep up with him. The novel is a poignant exploration of the nature of intelligence and the consequences of seeking knowledge and understanding. It is a thought-provoking read that challenges readers to consider their views on the treatment of people with disabilities and the limits of human experimentation.

Character Analysis

Charlie Gordon is the primary character of Flowers for Algernon, and his journey is the centerpiece of the novel. Charlie is portrayed as a sympathetic and complex character who has an IQ of 68 in the beginning. He is employed as a janitor at a bakery and is often the butt of jokes and ridicule from his fellow workers. After undergoing an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence, Charlie becomes a genius and his intellectual capabilities increase dramatically throughout the novel. However, with his newfound intelligence, Charlie also becomes increasingly isolated from the people around him, and he struggles with the emotional toll of his transformation. Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur, who conduct the experiment, are also important characters in the book. They are the ones responsible for Charlie's surgery and are portrayed as ambitious scientists who are focused on achieving success, perhaps at the cost of their patient's emotional well-being. Alice Kinnian, Charlie's teacher who helps him before and after the surgery, is a compassionate and empathic character who supports Charlie throughout his journey. She is instrumental in helping Charlie adjust to his new intelligence and confront the realities of his emotional life that he'd previously been able to ignore. Through the characters of Charlie, Dr. Strauss, Dr. Nemur, and Alice Kinnian, Flowers for Algernon explores themes of identity, humanity, and our relationships with others as we strive to achieve personal growth and understanding.

Analysis

=The novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a thought-provoking work that raises several critical questions about human existence. The first and foremost question is the ethical dilemma of human experimentation. The novel explores how far scientists can go to increase human intelligence and whether the ends justify the means. The experiment in the novel leads to both desirable and undesirable outcomes, leaving readers to question the value of such experimentation. The novel also addresses the nature of intelligence. Is intelligence solely about IQ, or is it beyond IQ? Through the character of Charlie, the novel suggests that intelligence is not just about knowledge acquisition but also about social and emotional intelligence. Charlie comes to realize that increased intelligence cannot cure loneliness and that emotional intelligence is equally essential. The novel emphasizes the issue of how people with disabilities are treated in society. The treatment of disabled people is often discriminatory, and the novel highlights society's perception of disability. It portrays how society often sees them as inferior to others and how they are deprived of equal opportunities. Isolation and alienation are recurring themes in the novel. Charlie's intelligence increase creates a barrier between him and others, leading to his isolation. The novel showcases how society often alienates people who are different from the norm and how this alienation can be detrimental to their mental health. The novel also explores the search for meaning and connection. Charlie realizes that his intelligence does not bring him the happiness he had hoped for and learns that there is more to life than just knowledge. He finds meaning and connection in human relationships and emotions. The novel's exploration of these themes makes it a timeless piece of literature that continues to be relevant today. It challenges readers to think deeply about the human condition and the ethics that govern society's treatment of its citizens. The novel's insights on human experimentation, intelligence, disability, isolation, and the search for meaning and connection, make it an essential read for anyone interested in the human psyche and its complexities.

Reviews

Flowers for Algernon has garnered significant critical acclaim for its thought-provoking themes, relatable and well-drawn characters, and emotional impact. The novel has won several significant awards, including the prestigious Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966. It has been praised for its vivid and insightful portrayal of people with disabilities, the complex yet empathetic characterization of the lead character Charlie, and its handling of difficult ethical and philosophical issues. Many reviewers and literary critics have hailed the book as a classic of science fiction and literature, and its exploration of themes such as human nature and the pursuit of knowledge continues to resonate with readers today. The emotional impact of the story and the profound transformation of the main character have left a lasting impression on readers who appreciate the power of a work of fiction to spark deep reflection and self-discovery. On Goodreads, Flowers for Algernon has garnered a rating of 4.09 out of 5, based on over 429,000 ratings and more than 20,000 reviews. Fans and casual readers alike have praised the book for its engaging storytelling, nuanced characterization, and powerful emotional depth. They have also commented on the way the book raises important questions about the value of intelligence and the treatment of people with disabilities in society. Flowers for Algernon is a powerful and thought-provoking work of literature that has earned its place among the most celebrated science fiction novels of all time. Readers looking for a story that will challenge their assumptions and provoke intense emotional reactions should definitely consider picking up a copy of this masterful novel. Flowers for Algernon Flowers for Algernon is a thought-provoking novel that explores important themes and raises important questions. The novel centers around the character of Charlie Gordon, a man with an intellectual disability who undergoes an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. Through a series of progress reports written by Charlie, the reader is taken on a journey as Charlie's intelligence increases dramatically. The novel is a character-driven story that delves into complex issues such as human experimentation, the nature of intelligence, and the treatment of people with disabilities. It also explores themes of isolation, alienation, and the search for meaning and connection. One of the strengths of Flowers for Algernon is its engaging characters. Charlie is a sympathetic character who the reader roots for throughout the novel. Other characters, such as Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur, who conduct the experiment, and Alice Kinnian, Charlie's teacher who helps him before and after the surgery, also play important roles in the story. The novel has received widespread praise for its emotional impact, engaging characters, and thought-provoking themes. It has won numerous awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966. Flowers for Algernon has been adapted into several films and stage productions and continues to be relevant and popular today. The novel has a 4.09 out of 5-star rating on Goodreads, based on over 429,000 ratings and more than 20,000 reviews. This rating is a testament to the enduring appeal and impact of the novel. Flowers for Algernon is a classic of science fiction and literature that explores important themes and raises important questions. Its engaging characters, emotional impact, and thought-provoking themes have earned it widespread acclaim and a place in the literary canon. has been widely praised for its thought-provoking themes, engaging characters, and emotional impact. It has won numerous awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966. Flowers for Algernon is a literary masterpiece that has gained widespread acclaim for its exceptional thematic context and superb character development. The novel's engaging storyline, thought-provoking themes, and emotional impact have impressed readers and critics alike. The book explores the consequences of human experimentation and the nature of intelligence, while also delving into isolation, alienation, and the search for meaning and connection. The novel's characters are particularly noteworthy, as Daniel Keyes has done an excellent job of portraying the delicate balance between intellect and emotion, especially in the case of Charlie Gordon. Charlie's character is complex and sympathetic, as he embodies the struggle to cope with life as a person with an intellectual disability. Other characters like Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss also play pivotal roles in the novel, and their relationships with Charlie highlight some of the ethical quandaries associated with human experimentation. - Flowers for Algernon has won numerous awards for its literary excellence, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966. The book's ability to engage readers with its emotional depth and sensitivity sets it apart from many other science fiction novels. - The novel's relevance and popularity remain undiminished, even today, with adaptations for stage productions and films being made frequently. The book has been translated into several languages, which is a testament to its universal appeal and impact on readers. - Flowers for Algernon is a masterpiece that continues to captivate readers with its exceptional storytelling, complex characters, and profound thematic content. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys science fiction or literary fiction and is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Details

The novel, Flowers for Algernon, was first published in 1958 as a short story in the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Daniel Keyes later expanded it into a full-length novel in 1966. Since then, it has become a classic of science fiction literature. The novel's popularity has led to several adaptations in various media. It has been adapted into several films, including the 1968 film Charly, which earned Cliff Robertson an Academy Award for Best Actor. The book has also been adapted into stage productions, including a musical version that premiered in London's West End in 2018. As the novel continues to be popular and relevant today, there have been discussions about adapting it into a television series. Fans of Flowers for Algernon can also explore the book's themes and characters in a variety of formats, including graphic novel adaptations and audiobooks.

News about

Flowers For Algernon There have been recent discussions in the entertainment industry about adapting the novel Flowers for Algernon into a TV series. This news has excited fans of the book, who are eager to see how the story will be portrayed on screen. While there are no confirmed details about the adaptation yet, many are speculating about casting and the show's creative direction. In addition, Flowers for Algernon continues to be a popular and relevant book today. Its exploration of themes such as the nature of intelligence, the treatment of people with disabilities, and the pursuit of knowledge resonate with readers of all ages. The book is often assigned as required reading in schools and is a popular choice for book clubs. Despite being written over 60 years ago, Flowers for Algernon remains a thought-provoking and impactful novel. It has been adapted into several successful films and stage productions, and its popularity shows no signs of diminishing. As society continues to grapple with issues related to disability and neurodiversity, the themes of Flowers for Algernon remain incredibly relevant and important.

Ratings

The ratings for Flowers for Algernon are impressive, with a 4.09 out of 5-star rating on Goodreads based on over 429,000 ratings and more than 20,000 reviews. It is evident that readers have enjoyed the book and have found it to be engaging and thought-provoking. The high rating is a testament to the author's ability to create well-rounded characters, discuss complex themes, and keep the reader engaged throughout the novel. The book's exploration of the human condition and pursuit of knowledge is still relevant today and resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds. - The high ratings are well-deserved, considering the thought-provoking themes the book raises about the ethics of human experimentation, the nature of intelligence, and the treatment of people with disabilities. - Many readers have praised the book for its emotional impact and engaging characters. - The novel has won numerous awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966, adding to its credibility and popularity. Read the full article

#FlowersforAlgernonbookdescription #FlowersforAlgernonbooknotes #FlowersforAlgernoncharacteranalysis #FlowersforAlgernonreviews

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lennart11412 · 4 years ago

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FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON Ie -----~---- ,-"~""-"-~"-~"-"--- DANIEL KEYES d )f progris riport l-martch 5 1965 Ie al J5 r. Strauss says I shud rite down what I think and evrey thing that st happins to me from now on. I dont know why but he says its importint Is so they will see if they will use me. I hope they use me. Miss Kinnian says Ie maybe they can make me smart. I want to be smart. My name is Charlie Id Gordon. I am 37 years old and 2 weeks ago was my brithday. I have nuthing more to rite now so I will close for today.

In 'y progris riport 2-martch 6 in

I had a test today. I think I faled it. and I think that maybe now they wont )f use me. What happind is a nice young man was in the room and he had some 19 white cards with ink spillled all over them. He sed Charlie what do you see ton this card. I was very skared even tho I had my rabits foot in my pockit ,/I because when I was a kid I always faled tests in school and I spillled ink to. I told him I saw a inkblot. He said yes and it made me feel good. I thot n that was all but when I got up to go he stopped me. He said now sit down d Charlie we are not thru yet. Then I dont remember so good but he wan tid me to say what was in the ink. I dint see nuthing in the ink but he said there was picturs there other pepul saw some picturs. I coudnt see any picturs. I reely tryed to see. I held the card close up and then far away. Then I said if 1 had my glases I coud see better I usally only ware my glases in the movies or TV but 1 said they are in the closh in the hall. I got them. Then I said let me see that card agen I bet III find it now. I tryed hard but I still coudnt find the picturs I only saw the ink. 1 told him maybe 1 need new glases. He rote somthing down on a paper and I got skared of faling the test. I told him it was a very nice inkblot with littel points all around the eges. He looked very sad so that wasnt it. I said please let me try agen. III get it in a few minits becaus 1m not so fast somtimes. 1m a slow reeder too in Miss Kinnians class for slow adults but I'm trying very hard. He gave me a chance with another card that had 2 kinds of ink spilled on it red and blue. He was very nice and talked slow like Miss Kinnian does and he explaned it to me that it was a raw shok. He said pepul see things in the ink. I said show me where. He said think. I told him I think a inkblot but that wasnt rite eather. He said what does it remind you-pretend something. 1 closd my eyes for a long time to pretend. I told him I pretend a fowntan pen with ink leeking all over a table cloth. Then he got up and went out. 1 dont think I passd the raw shok test.

Dahl, Claus (1961-)

Fjellgård med folkeliv

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ryotarox · 5 years ago

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主人公の日誌の文章が、知能の向上に伴って変化していきます。　最初は、“Dr. Strauss says I shud rite down what I think and evrey thing that happins to me from now on." (すとらうすせんせいわ僕わ僕がこれからかんがえることやなんでも僕におこることを書いておきなさいとゆった)という、たどたどしい文章です（野口訳）。（略）ところが、叡知の頂点に登りつめたときの文章は、"I recall your once saying to me that an experimental failure or the disproving of a theory was as important to the advancement of learning as a success would be." (実験上の失敗または理論の反証は、人知の進歩にとって成功と同様に重要であるとの貴方の言葉を、いま私は想起する)という感動的なものになります。

ダニエル・キース,Flowers for Algernon｜野口悠紀雄｜note

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tuulikannel · 2 years ago

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5, 14, 15, 19!

5. where do you buy books?

I used to work in a bookstore (for over 10 years), so at that time I naturally bought pretty much all my books there, and I'm still in the same habit. ^^ In general, I do prefer physical stores to online stores. Its more fun to browse there. Sometimes I buy books from Adlibris (a Swedish online book store, which is pretty big in Finland too).

14. do you ever mark/dog ear books you own?

…no. Or, I'm sure there are occasions that I've done this in the past... >_> I'd still say no. I own a gazillion of bookmarks, tho most often there just some random piece of paper stuck in-between the pages. ^^;;

15. recommend and review a book.

……a book? As in only one? What am I to choose…

I'd like to pick something from C.J. Cherryh or Clifford D. Simak, couple of my favorite authors, but maybe I'll choose instead Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (published in 1966). It's a beautiful book, I think… moving, but quite sad. I think I'll start with the back cover blurb:

"Charlie Gordon, IQ 68, is a floor sweeper, and the gentle butt of everyone's jokes, until an experiment in the enhancement of human intelligence turns him into a genius. But then Algernon, the mouse whose triumphal experimental transformation preceded his, fades and dies, and Charlie has to face the possibility that his salvation was only temporary."

Now… one thing I would like to point out is that this so-called 'salvation' isn't so black and white to begin with. Is being smart really the only thing that matters?

Out of curiosity, I checked 1-star reviews on Amazon. There's three kinds of them: 1) those who didn't like the swearing/sexual references and who had bought this book for kids (I mean… what about it made you think it's a children's book?), 2) those who found it too hard/boring to follow (I'll refrain from any comments), and 3) those who complain about spelling errors. The last thing is hilarious to me. This book is basically Charlie's diary, and like I said, his IQ in the beginning is 68. He doesn't know how to spell (in the beginning). So yes, there are spelling errors. A lot of them. Here's the first sentence: "Dr Strauss says I shoud rite down what I think and remembir and evrey thing that happins to me from now on." If this kind of writing gets on your nerves, maybe you should skip this book. XD

19. most disliked popular books?

First I couldn't think of anything but…… there's this pretty popular (I think?) fantasy author, Tad Williams. And I do like him too! Some years ago I got this urge to read some proper fantasy, and I ended up rereading his Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, and I loved it just as much as I did back when I first read it. And then I noticed he had just decided to continue it (after 25 years or so, impeccable timing from me, isn't this!) The little book that connects the old trilogy to the new trilogy(?) is called The Heart of What Was Lost and… it's so bad. So bad. ;_; People and places just had common names with the old, familiar things, and that's all; change the names, and it could have been just any other (quite mediocre) fantasy book, set somewhere else. The world-building, part of what had made the original series so fantastic, wasn't there either.

And people love that book! There are reviews under such titles as "Magic of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Recaptured," "An Excellent Re-Introduction to Osten Ard," "A great followup to Memory Sorry (sic.) and Thorn trilogy!" and "Williams hovers on the edge of greatness," and I'm just like, have we read the same book? O_o I personally found it bad as a book, and awful as a continuation to that series! (Sorry if it's your favorite book. >_>)

(Also, the followup series… it's okay~ish, but again, nowhere near to the original series either. I've only read the first two books. The third part has apparently come out last year. Maybe I'll read it some day. Or maybe not, we'll see.)

Huh. Ok, rant over. ^^;;

#books #asks

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forgottenbones · 7 years ago

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Fiori per Algernon

Un racconto breve, poi divenuto romanzo, di Daniel Keyes. È di fantascienza, ma come dico sempre, la fantascienza ci parla.

Entrambe le versioni sono scritte in forma epistolare. L'autore di queste lettere è Charlie Gordon, il nostro protagonista. Soffre di fenilchetonuria e di conseguenza, ha un QI basso e molte difficoltà nella vita. Fa un lavoro umile (nella short story, il custode in una fabbrica, nel romanzo lavora in una panetteria) e va alle scuole serali per persone che hanno difficoltà di apprendimento.

Su raccomandazione della sua insegnante, Alice Kinnian, viene selezionato da due scienziati, il Dr. Nemur e il Dr. Strauss, per il loro programma di ricerca. Questi ultimi hanno sviluppato una pratica chirurgica atta all'aumento dell'intelligenza di un individuo. Il paziente zero, come accade sempre, è un topo di laboratorio di nome Algernon, che dopo l'operazione è diventato molto più vispo.

Intenzionato a cambiare la sua vita, Charlie accetta di sottoporsi all'intervento, che risulta un completo successo.

Ma Charlie si rende conto che il suo rapporto con le persone peggiora. Si accorge che i suoi colleghi parlavano con lui solo per sfotterlo e che adesso, hanno paura della sua nuova intelligenza e vogliono farlo licenziare. Anche il Dr. Nemur lo tratta in maniera paternalistica e lo considera solo il soggetto di un suo esperimento, una cavia, come Algernon.

Decide di prendere il topo con lui e di continuare la ricerca dei due dottori per perfezionarla. Dopo un po' scopre che Algernon si comporta in maniera strana e forse ciò che sospettava si rivela realtà: il metodo non dà risultati permanenti. Il topo ritorna presto come prima e di lì a poco, muore. Viene sepolto nel giardino di Charlie.

Charlie realizza che lui subirà lo stesso destino e perderà la sua intelligenza. Prima che sia tardi, cerca di riconciliarsi con la sua famiglia, ma non c'è verso. Il padre che li aveva abbandonati non lo riconosce. La madre che ora soffre di demenza senile capisce chi è solo brevemente. Sua sorella, con cui aveva un rapporto conflittuale crescendo e che ora si occupa della madre, lo invita a rimanere con loro, ma Charlie rifiuta, promettendo però che le spedirà dei soldi.

Frustrato dalla perdita delle sue facoltà, compresa la capacità di leggere e scrivere e non sopportando la pietà dei suoi colleghi, decide di andarsene a New York.

Essendo in forma epistolare, il cambiamento ci viene mostrato da come il protagonista si esprime: all'inizio in maniera semplice, sgrammaticata. In seguito, con un lessico e una forma che rispecchiano la trovata eloquenza. Per poi tornare allo stato iniziale, quando l'effetto della procedura si esaurisce.

L'ultima cosa che il protagonista include nella sua lettera finale è un post scriptum in cui prega qualcuno di portare dei fiori sulla "tomba" di Algernon, nel cortile di quella che era una volta la sua casa.

Nota: se vi sono venuti dei flashback al film Il Tagliaerbe, "ispirato" ad un racconto breve di Stephen King (che è un po' come dire che io sono ispirato a Kim Rossi Stuart), non siete i soli.

#libri #intelligenza #disabilità #etica scientifica #società

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ersondoronila-blog · 7 years ago

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"Think about the dream and just let my mind wander until other thoughts come up in my mind. I keep on doing that until my mind goes blank. Dr. Strauss says that it means I've reached a point where my subconscious is trying to block my conscious from remembering. It's a wall between the present and the past. Sometimes the wall stays up and sometimes it breaks down and I can remember what's behind it."

Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes

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realacademicgrowth2002 · 4 years ago

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5/7/21

literature:

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes:

Wow. This novel was beautiful. One main idea is how human existence is not only for the sake of acquiring knowledge-- the socio-emotional aspect is a big part of it too. Charlie, as he gets smarter and rises above professionals of the highest calliber, becomes more self-centered and believes he is better than everyone else (ironic- as he becomes the very person he hates/hated). This is closely related to the questions the book raises on the value we place on people because of their intellect-- those with a lower IQ are treated as non-humans and not seen as individuals. We see able-ism show up in different forms. In Charlie's mother, we see that she wants to change him, to make him 'normal' as a child. In the doctors, psychologists, and other intellects, it's the idea that science has 'fixed' him. In his co-workers at the bakery, it is the way they make fun of him. In Charlie, once he becomes smarter, he looks at retarded people the way others used to look at him.

Pride and how it makes people dislike you. When you can laugh at yourself, or allow others to laugh at you, you make more friends. This pops up a few times, and at first I thought it did not make much sense, considering how they would laugh at Charlie all the time. But then at the end you see that the guys at the bakery defended Charlie when a new worker was harassing him. I think it is not so much a comment on letting others stomp over you, but rather a comment on how low intellect is deemed funny. And I wonder if that is malicious or not-- because it is definitely true, people find humor in being 'dumb' -- I guess it depends on if you want to be taken seriously or if you want friends. I'm not clear yet how I feel about humor.

What makes Charlie a great candidate is his desire to be smarter, noted at the beginning of the novel. Yet this desire to be smarter was rooted in the way his mother would not accept him, until he was smarter. What we are taught as children never really leaves us (a subconscious belief of it always exists).

Sex and how it is different as a purely physical act or an intimate one. How, potentially, your childhood subconscious is not ready and associates the person you are trying to be intimate with with your parent/parents. Charlie appears as a child or as he was pre-operation watching, anytime Charlie gets in an intimate situation with Alice. Then he stops and can't go through with it. This doesn't happen with Fay. Charlie says he loves Alice and that she is the only woman he has ever loved--and I think this is partially because she represents everything he wanted in a mother and everything he wants in a lover, which is probably a big part of why he had so much trouble detaching the subconscious association between the two (and why a child version of him would always show up). Keyes repeats the motif of a knife throughout the book, his mother holds the knife, he writes that Alice, Dr Strauss, and others 'hold a knife' at some point. I think it highlights the danger that vulnerability and attachment create. They can always hurt you if you care about them-- or you expose your realest self to them. Closely related is the repetition of the three blind mice poem. The first time it popped up, I thought that it was the idea of going in blindly (not being aware) and being hurt (even though you might not be aware of it). And I think Keyes is brilliant here because the second time it popped up I thought of it as 'the blind mice had their tails cut off (they were hurt by a certain person), yet they keep running to the person that cut it off in the first place (still open up, still allow self to be vulnerable)." Which is amazing! and very real--when we are children we get hurt because we are blind to all the evils out there, but by the time we are adults we are aware of the possibility of being hurt, yet we run towards potential hurt with the same veil. Because you cannot really love without being vulnerable, just as you cannot hurt without it.

Quotes: "The more intelligent you become the more problems you'll have, Charlie. Your intellectual growth is going to outstrip your emotional growth" (47). "One of the things that confuses me is never really knowing when something comes up from my past, whether it really happened that way, or if that was the way it seemed to be at the time, or if I'm inventing it" (82). "Three blind mice... three blind mice, \n See how they run! See how they run! \n They all run after the farmer's wife, \n She cut off their tails with a carving knife, \* Did you ever see such a sight in your life, \n As three... blind... mice?" (84, 277). "Why does a memory like that from childhood remain with me so strongly, and why does it frighten me now? (85). "broken down the conscious barriers that kept the old Charlie Gordon hidden deep in my mind. As I suspected all along, he was not really gone. Nothing in our minds is ever really gone. The operation had covered him over with a veneer of education and culture, but emotionally he was there-- watching and waiting" (195). "...the men of the cave would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes...." (285, from Plato). "It doesn't mean... It just is--like a poem" (292, Alice). "The universe was exploding, each particle away from the next, hurtling us into dark and lonely space,... each through his own pathway toward the goal-box of solitary death. But this was the counterwieght, the act of binding and holding" (294).

computer science:

how messaging and user interaction works. clothes fitting virtually. A way to track and dismantly internet cp trafficking using data patterns

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