Flowers for Algernon

The novel tells the story of Charlie Gordon—a man with an intellectual disability—who participates in an experimental treatment designed to dramatically increase his intelligence. Through a series of progress reports kept by the protagonist, the reader follows his transformation from a person with an IQ of 68 into a genius. However, this success proves temporary, and Charlie must face the reversal of the process. The book explores themes of human dignity, society’s treatment of people with disabilities, and the ethical dilemmas of scientific experimentation.