Question

Who is Algernon, and why is he important?

Answer 1

Algernon is a fictional character in the novel "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes. He is a laboratory mouse who undergoes experimental surgery to increase his intelligence, but the experiment also has a similar effect on a mentally disabled man named Charlie Gordon. Algernon is important in the novel because his progress and decline serve as a parallel to Charlie's own journey towards intelligence and self-awareness. Ultimately, Algernon's fate sheds light on the limitations and ethical implications of manipulating intelligence through scientific means.