Flowers for Algernon is a short story written by Daniel Keyes that was first published in 1966 The story follows Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man, who has a surgical operation that temporarily increases his intelligence. The operation is based on an experimental procedure involving experimental surgery on a laboratory mouse named Algernon. Charlie is intelligent for a brief time, but ultimately loses his heightened intellect as Algernon regresses. As such, the story explores the idea of intelligence and the implications of experimentation.
The following are five interesting essay topics on Flowers for Algernon:
1. How does the theme of “intelligence” inform the story of Flowers for Algernon?
2. To what extent is Charlie’s journey shaped by his relationships with the various characters he meets?
3. Discuss the ethical implications of using experimental surgery on a laboratory mouse.
4. In what ways does Flowers for Algernon explore the implications of artificial intelligence?
5. How does the progression of events in the story bring attention to societal expectations regarding intelligence and mental disability?
These topics explore the various themes of Flowers for Algernon such as intelligence, relationships, the implications of experimentation, artificial intelligence, and societal expectations. These topics are interesting due to their relevance and applicability to modern society, as well as their potential to engage readers in a meaningful dialogue about the ideas presented in the short story.