Flowers For Algernon

Charlie Gordan was a person with an IQ of only 68, much below average. One day, two scientists decides to give him an operation to change him from a retard to a genius. The operation was successful. However, after a period of time, Charlie’s intelligence began regressing. He became a retard again like he was before the operation. The topic today is: Should the experiment on Charlie Gordan have taken place? Let’s see from different people’s point of view.



Dr Strauss and Professor Nemur’s points of view…


The experiment of Charlie Gordon should have taken place. They would be able to test on humans and if the experiment succeeds, they would know that it is safe for the public to use their method to increase intelligence. It would make people who could afford to have the operation smarter and more creative, with a higher Intelligence Quotient. It would also make an excellent science discovery as it would mean helping people who are retarded or less intelligent. If this is a good way of making people intelligent, neurosurgeons from all around the world would want to adopt his method of increasing people’s intelligence. Professor Nemur would also be able have less stress as he had already fulfilled his wife’s wish of having a rich and famous husband.



Mr and Mrs Gordon's points of view...


Dr Strauss and Professor Nemur should not have even taken a human being to do such a dangerous experiment in which nobody knew about the outcome of it. What would happen if anything untoward happened to him? They should try it on Algernon and see what happens to him before trying it on Charlie Gordan? Since no one knew about the consequences of the operation, they should not have even taken a human being to test it out before anything else!



Fanny Birden's point of view...


Such experiments should not even have taken place in the first place. There must be a reason why God have given us such a body to live with. We should not change the fact that we are living with such a low IQ. We should not go through any artificial operations that might put ourselves at risk. We should not go against the God's wish. What rights do we actually have to change the fact that we have a low IQ? We are born like that and we have to live with that fact.



Joe Carp and Frank Reilly's point of views...


This operation of increasing Charlie's IQ should not have taken place in the first place. If everyone in this business world takes an operation like that, there would be an extremely tough competition out here in the business world! People should live as who they are and compete fairly in the business world. On top of that, Charlie has always been a naive person, but one who is easy to communicate with. His intelligence is below average. However, now that his intelligence has surpassed others after the operation, people find him becoming more and more superior to us, and harder to communicate with because of his superiority.


From the arguments above, my group has concluded that the experiment should not have taken place on Charlie Gordan. The scientists have been tampering with nature. Nature is what is meant to be and should not be tampered with. The scientists should not have used science against nature. They should have let Charlie be what he was.