Tolog Review: Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon
by Daniel Keyes
reviewed by Camryn Steele

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a Literary Fiction novel about finding one’s identity and love. Charlie Gordon, a thirty-two-year-old man, who is mentally disabled, is about to undergo a life changing surgery. Charlie works at a bakery in his free time in which he has convinced himself that his horrid co-workers are his best friends. Charlie finds true love and friendship through his teacher Alice and his best friend, Algernon. Before the surgery, Charlie states, "If your smart you can have lots of friends to talk to and you never get lonely by yourself all the time (11)." As Charlie undergoes his surgery to increase his intelligence, Algernon, a mouse who has also experienced the same surgery, continues to bring Charlie happiness. Charlie comes out of his surgery as no super genius but a book worm. He begins to perceive how curt and impolite his thought to be best work friends treated him. Although, he starts to get the “hots” for his teacher, Alice, and tends to go to tutoring more often. Sadly, Algernon's surgery results begin to wear off and so do Charlie's. As they both revert to their pre-smart state, Algernon becomes very sick and dies. Charlie is stricken by this news and begins to say his goodbyes to Alice and visit Algernon's grave. On his farewell letter to Alice, he writes, "P.S. please if you get a chance put some flowers on Algernon's grave in the backyard (216).”

There are major themes of identity and love throughout this story. As the world changes around him, Charlie struggles to find himself due to the discovery of his “smart-self” and “old-self.” He is helpless to the idea of love in which he thinks only smart people are allowed to do. Charlie is a brave and vigorous character. He shows that he is not feared of change and ready to take on obstacles. By the end of the novel, although it is seemed to get darker and morbid, with the help of his strength and power, Charlie discovers his identity and is accepting to its conditions.