Topic > The challenges of being intelligent in Daniel Keyes' novel Flowers for Algernon

Intelligent people often face many challenges in life. This is certainly true in Daniel Keyes' novel, Flowers for Algernon, where the main character, Charlie, faces many challenges after becoming intelligent. Charlie's transformation into an intelligent person leads him to face many different social problems and go through a wave of different emotions all at once. Therefore, Charlie's life is more difficult now that he is intelligent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, Charlie faces many challenges with his emotions once he becomes intelligent. Charlie discovers that the bakers have been bullying him the whole time and are not his friends. As Charlie gains his intelligence, he learns what shameful things the bakers said, such as "Now I know what they mean when they say 'to pull a Charlie Gordon,' I'm ashamed" (Keyes 42). Charlie realizes that the bakers are teasing him behind his back, even though he considered them his friends and thought they considered him equal. The only reason Charlie wanted to become smart was because of his mother's love and acceptance, because ever since he was a child, all she wanted was for him to be smart. The one thought that constantly ran through Charlie's mind was that he "never stopped wanting to be...the smart guy...so that she would love me." Since he wasn't smart while growing up, he thought that the only way his mother would love him and be happy if he was smart. At Professor Nemar's cocktail party, Charlie Gordan admits that his life was better before the operation because he had friends then, but now his intelligence has led him to isolate himself from everyone. In the end, Charlie also adds that “Intelligence…that has not been tempered by human affection is worth nothing.” He believed that along with intelligence he would also receive love, friends and acceptance, but the opposite happened, making him understand that without love, intelligence is worth nothing. Therefore, Charlie realizes that being smart doesn't give you a better life. Furthermore, Charlie encounters several social problems due to his intelligence. He was mistreated several times by others because he was not intelligent. While talking to Professor Nemur, Charlie expresses himself and tells Nemur that “he was a person before the operation. In case you forgot. He felt like he was treated more like an object than a human being and this was mainly because the professor was unable to consider a person with a low IQ to be a human being. Charlie Gordan begins to transform into a new person towards the end of the story when he loses his intelligence, and this is shown when Alice goes to visit him but he doesn't let her in. I don't want her to laugh at me." says Charlie because Alice Kinnian was the only woman he ever loved and Charlie didn't want her to stop loving him because she was losing her intelligence. Charlie Gordan was the person who always laughed at him for feeling happy, but due to his current mental state, it has become the opposite which is creating distance between him and the woman he loves. Ultimately, Charlie Gordan looks back and reflects on the experience he gained while living the life of an intellectual.” Now I know that I had a family and I was a person like everyone else,” says Charlie as he begins to remember his past and his family. Even though he has lost his intelligence, he has still come to recognize that he is a person of value. Since Charlie has gotten smarter, he has lost more than he has gained. Keep in mind: this is just one example. Get a paper now.