On one level Flowers for Algernon is about a scientific experiment that goes wrong. Charlie Gordon is a thirty seven year old man, who has an IQ of sixty-eight. Charlie wants, more than anything, "to be smart." Charlie agrees to take part in an experimental operation, to hopefully triple his intelligence. The operation is successful, but not permanent, and the after effects leave Charlie in a worse state than before the operation. Sadly, the idea of improving intelligence by surgical means, " has no practical application what-so-ever."

As well as being a story about a failed scientific experiment, Flowers for Algernon also addresses the issue of love and friendship, especially between 'slow' and 'normal' people. A special friendship develops between Charlie and Ms Kinnian, over the course of the radio play. To Charlie, Ms Kinnian is like a mentor. She supports and cares for Charlie throughout his development, and helps him realise things about the world and himself that he

Ms Kinnian cares deeply for Charlie, in this radio play, she believes Charlie is a " very fine person," but Charlie feels more than respect for Ms Kinnian. As Charlie's emotions develop, he realises that he is "in love with Ms Kinnian." It is questionable, however, if Charlie really does love Ms Kinnian, or just thinks he does for she is the one person that understands him.

Ultimately, Flowers for Algernon is a radio play about a failed scientific experiment but so much more as well. It gives us an insight into many modern day problems as well as the problems faced by intellectually challenged members of society, and the pressure on them to conform.

Flowers for Algernon is also a play about medical ethics. A debatable question in our society is whether we should experiment on animals or not. If no, then the only alternative is to experiment on humans, but are humans more important than animals? The experiment performed on Charlie was also performed on Algernon, but Charlie was seen as the more important subject. " 'Charlie and Algernon', 'Algernon and Charlie', - two interchangeable experimental animals. We should be treated alike."

There is also the issue of whether or not any of the actions taken in the radio play were taken because of a conflict of interest. It is suggested in the radio play that Dr. Nemur's main reason for performing and publishing the results of the experiment, was to achieve fame and acclaim at the 'World Psychological Association'. Dr. Nemur often seems

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Approximate Word count = 1015
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)