Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon

Question #1

The moral issue the book raises is the issue of how society treats disabled individuals in one way or the other. During the treatment of Charlie, the novel portrays that people did not show sympathy towards individuals with special needs, especially medical practitioners. The book also relays how the disabled face difficulties in navigating through their individual lives and how they are disabled to experiments that are not moral. In the case of Charlie’s treatment, where the nurse Hilda, termed the treatment to be God’s play. God’s play meant that Charlie was not aware of what kind of treatment was to be administered to him. Furthermore, the book states that the surgery was a secret because Charlie narrates that he did not understand why he had to keep the experiment a secret. The care that the nurse, Hilda, is also unethical. She does not take care of Charlie as her profession demands. Case in point, when Charlie wakes up from the surgery, Hilda says that no one should mess with God’s work, and she makes Charlie feel like in case the experiment goes south, it is because of Charlie’s sinful ways.

Question #2

The role of science and medical technology for people with disabilities and medical conditions is to try to treat and care for the patients. At the same time, the two should try to make the patients comfortable with their already existing situation, unlike in the novel. Through science, individuals who are disabled can engage in various disciplinary levels, and this enables the disabled to develop awareness, immediate interests of themselves, and interest in their surroundings. The achievement can be accomplished regardless of the achievement level of the individuals with special needs (Kang and Martin, 3). On the other hand, medical technology is to improve the functioning of the disabled. Through assistive technology, medical technology enhances the quality of life by progressing in the operation of individuals who have developed disabilities because of a disease, injury, or due to aging. Medical technology assists the disabled to participate, and live fully in the community, to work, take care of their families, and this is achieved through coming up with medication that can facilitate what the disabled would not have otherwise been able to do. 

Question #3

Charlie’s evolution from the start of the novel to the end brings forth several themes. The first theme that can be visible is the theme of friendship and loneliness. Charlie’s mother had convinced Charlie that intelligence would earn him affection and love of others. The reason Charlie wishes to do the operation is that he can have “lots of frends who like him.” Charlie accepts the operation because of the fear of being lonely. Nonetheless, as his IQ increases, Charlie discovers that even intelligence has some alienation. He soon gets fired from the bakery, and he realizes that his intelligence has created a wall between the people he knew and loved, and soon, he feels even more alone than ever before. Another theme that the novel brings to the fore is the theme of love. Charlie is in love with his teacher, Alice, and he struggles between reconciling his genius and his emotional intelligence. Charlie is defeated to consummate his feelings towards Alice because he lacks emotional maturity, and he asserts this by saying, “I’m still a boy about women.”  The feelings Charlie has for Alice is heightened to the extent that he hallucinates of a relationship between Alice and him

Question #4

Intellectual disability is normally characterized by restrictions in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that originates before the age of 18 years. On the other hand, giftedness is characterized by the ability for the children and youth to display outstanding talent in various domains such as leadership, creativity, intelligence, or even in science and languages. The novel Flowers for Algernon represents well intellectual disability and giftedness. Charlie’s intellectual disability makes him feel that that is the reason for his loneliness. Furthermore, after Charlie gets his IQ boosted, he develops cruelty and selfishness. Moreover, Charlie loses more than he thought he would have gained if he got his IQ boosted. The novel is timely because it gives its audience the beauty of being satisfied and content with their situations. Just like John Stuart Mill’s perception of contentment, the novel tries to educate its audience that it is better to be a dissatisfied human being than a satisfied pig.

Question #5

Intelligence Quotient, normally abbreviated to as IQ, is the measurement of an individual’s rate of intelligence that is expressed with a number. IQ tests measure a person’s intelligence, and when the result is more than 100, then the person is considered smarter. If I were Charlie, I would not take the same approach he took. In as much as Charlie underwent through all the intelligence boost, he only got to enjoy it for a while before he was back to normalcy. Furthermore, the risks involved were a bit higher, and Charlie was not aware of the possible risks involved after the operation. The level of life one is supposed to live should not be a subject of debate. The novel reminds the readers of the value of honesty in friendship and relationships. Everyone has the right to be valued for who they are instead of what they are expected to be. Therefore, I would not go through the experiments.