Book review: flowers for algernon

At first glance, Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon might seem like a run-of-the-mill science fiction story. A groundbreaking experiment grants enhanced intelligence, right? We've all seen that trope before. But Flowers for Algernon transcends its genre with its unflinching portrayal of human connection, loss, and the complexities of intelligence.

The science fiction element is the launchpad, the "what if" that allows Keyes to explore profound questions. What if intelligence wasn't a fixed trait, but something malleable? Charlie Gordon, the protagonist, undergoes an experimental surgery at the local college that rockets his IQ from below average to genius level. We experience this shift through Charlie's progress reports, a brilliant narrative device. His broken grammar and simple sentence structure morph into complex prose, mirroring his blossoming intellect.

Free picture from pexels. Author: Martha Siedlecka

However, the true power of the novel lies in Charlie's emotional journey. As his intelligence grows, he grapples with the isolation it brings. The people he once cherished now seem shallow, their conversations dull. His yearning for connection deepens, and the sting of rejection becomes sharper. Keyes doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of Charlie's experience. The pain of alienation and the loss of innocence are palpable.

The story takes a tragic turn when Algernon, the lab mouse who underwent the same surgery, begins to regress. Charlie, filled with dread, recognizes the foreshadowing of his own fate. The novel doesn't shy away from the heartbreak of losing what you've gained. It forces us to contemplate the impermanence of knowledge and the preciousness of human connection, regardless of intellectual capacity.

The story ends with the protagonist in a worst place than he was, leaving you with the question whether it's better never to have known, than to have known and lost something.

Flowers for Algernon might be science fiction in its premise, but its emotional core is timeless. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, a testament to the enduring power of great literature.