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Charlie Gordon, selected for new experiment
Charlie Gordon, a man with a exceptionally low IQ of 68, is selected by Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss for an experimental procedure that has successfully increased the intelligence of a mouse named Algernon. Charlie works at a bakery where he has a close relationship with his boss and coworkers. He also attends the 'Beakman college center for retarded adults' where he learned how to read and write at about a 1st or 2nd grade level. -
The Operation is performed on Charlie
The operation performed on Charlie is experimental, and he is the first humman to recieve this treatment. The only other highly successful subject that they continue to work with is a mouse named Algernon. They arent sure of the long term effects of this procedure yet but soon Charlie starts to show academic improvement. -
Charlie starts to show academic improvement
Over the next month Charlie Begins showing improvement in his reading and writing very quickly but continues to struggle to understand the people around him. He also begins working with his therapist Dr. Strauss. -
Charlies intelligence is much higher
Charlie's IQ has rapidly increased and he is now able to engage with other college students in academic debate. He begins to develop romantic feelings for Alice Kinnian, his former teacher but struggles to open himself up to her. In therapy Charlie discovers he is still emotionally stunted due to childhood trauma. As he continues to progress he is plagued with traumatic flashbacks from his past, to his abusive mother and unloving sister. He also recalls kind memories of his father and doctor. -
Charlie loses his job
Charlie is fired from his job at the bakery due to his increased intelligence causing his coworkers to become uncomftorable when around him. Because his intelligence has increased so much, the poeple who once felt powerful around Charlie now felt belittled and patronized by him. His boss also tells Charlie that he vowed to always protect him and make sure he could always live alone and work, and now that he was so smart, he didnt need the bakery anymore. This causes Charlie to feel resentful. -
Charlie's Intelligence surpasses the Scientists
Charlie continues to struggle connecting with Alice and she decidedes they need to break up. She states he makes people around him feel stupid and he is no longer kind. He feels like everyone in his life only liked him when he was the butt of their jokes and he feels more resentful. He has stopped idolizing Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss and is sent into a panic when he realizes they are not as smart as he thought. He resents them for the way they treat algernon and feels deeply connected with him. -
The flaw in the operation
While at a conference Charlies emotions spiral into a panic attack as he realizes Stauss and Nemur have made a mistake. Charlie steals Algernon in order to find the flaw in the experiment. He moves into a new apartment in New York and begins researching algernons behavior. He also begins a romantic fling with the woman next door. He finds that Algernon is exhibiting behaviors of regressing intelligence and erratic behavior. He finds the flaw and emails Strauss and Nemur, as well as Alice. -
Algernon Dies
Soon Algernon passes away, reinforcing Charlies theory. Realizing he may not have much time left to reconnect with his family. He visits his father who has left his mother and sister and started his own barbershop. Charlie gets a haircut but does not tell his father who he is. When he visits his mother, he breaks down. When she realises who he is she is happy to see he is 'normal', his sister is relieved, thinking he has come to help her with their sick mother who has dementia. -
The Decline
Charlies begins to show the predicted signs of regression, and his intelligence begins to decline. He isolates himself and becomes depressed. He begins to forget things, until he can no longer care for himself. Charlie checks himself into the Warren State Home and Training School for the Mentally Disabled where he continues to regress until eventually he can no longer recognize Alice or the other scientists. He is afraid he will lose his ability to write but is happy and no longer resentful. -
Charlies last entry
As Charlie regresses back to his old self, he goes to back to the bakery and asks for his old job back. Mr donnar is sad to see that the surgery was not successful but embraces Charlie back. His old friends welcome him back as well. It seems like his life is going back to how it was before, and he might forget this whole experience ever happened at all. However in his last entry he reminds Dr. Nemur not to take himself too seriously, and asks that we put flowers on algernons grave for him.