Excerpt by Essay:
English Literary works – Flowers for Algernon
Though Blossoms for Algernon is a fictionalized account, this addresses authentic issues, many of which are common. Published in 1966, the novel demonstrates the much less sensitive take care of mentally disabled people in that time period. Allowing a unique point of view through the eyes of a gentleman who lacks, increases, then loses genius, the novel is definitely both tragic and moving, making definitive statements about high intelligence’s great effects in some areas and insufficient impact in other areas of individual life.
How Has the Treatment of Individuals with Mental Disabilities Altered since Plants for Algernon was Drafted?
Flowers to get Algernon (Keyes, 1966) was published in 1966. Inside the 56 years since that novel’s newsletter, the treatment of people with mental problems has significantly changed in numerous ways. Pertaining to purposes on this paper, the change about the word “retarded” will be regarded as. The frame of mind expressed through language has evolved significantly. While the project pointed out, Charlie often talks of him self as “retarded. ” For instance , a record entry about his mom says, “Why is it essential for me to say to her: ‘Mom, look at myself. I’m certainly not retarded any longer. I’m normal'” (Keyes, 1966, p. 156). What’s much worse is the fact that that a mental health professional – Miss Kinnian – obviously also telephone calls Charlie retarded: reporting his March 30 conversation with Miss Kinnian, Charlie writes that the girl said, “At werst you will possess it all for a little wile and your undertaking something to get other retarded pepul” (Keyes, 1966, p. 31). Also official games included the word “retarded”: Steve writes, “Then we’re at the Adult Center for the Retarded” (Keyes, 1966, g. 48). Luckily, there is now a greater sensitivity to the impact of words just like “retard. inch The most striking change has fittingly occurred in the professional area of Psychology, as the 2010 manual used by specialists use to get diagnosis removes the term “Mental retardation” and substitutes this with “Intellectual disability” (Chandler, 2010). This enlightenment in addition has gained help in the cultural arena. According to Bernard Shriver, Jr., a 2008 co-founder of Spread the phrase to End the Word, “Words with negative connotations can also significantly affect just how people with afflictions of all kinds are treated and may influence general public policy” (Groff Wildman, 2012); consequently, Shriver publicly tensions the harm caused by this term and has worked to end its use. In addition , the AP Stylebook, which pieces standards for Associated Press journalists, has set “mentally disabled” because the preferred term after consulting with medical professionals regarding appropriate terms (Groff Wildman, 2012). These kinds of efforts obviously have some effect, as U. S. newspapers’ and wires’ use of “retarded” markedly decreased in the years from 06\ to 2010 and the usage of “mentally disabled” has continuously increased inside the years from 1980 to 2010 (Groff Wildman, 2012).
Is Flowers for Algernon Tragic or Inspiring?
Plants for Algernon is both tragic and inspiring. It really is tragic upon several levels. One clear tragedy is the fact that Charlie gets a taste of true genius, only to slowly but surely lose it again. Charlie knows when the tipp Algernon manages to lose its intellect and dies (Keyes, 1966, pp. 237-8) that Steve could also drop his cleverness and die (Keyes, 1966, p. 238). Eventually, the worst possible outcome holds true: Charlie simply briefly experiences true wizard, then slowly but surely fails and goes “Downhill” (Keyes, 1966, p. 256), and will probably ultimately pay the ultimate price of death, all of these must be beautiful torture. Another tragedy is Charlie’s solitude after obtaining high brains. Before Charlie’s experimental surgery, he sweeps floors within a bakery exactly where his colliege friends play practical humor on him and have a good laugh at him, with Charlie laughing proper along (Keyes, 1966, g. 39). Yet , due to his increasing brains after the medical procedures, Charlie realizes that his coworker friends are actually getting mean to him and therefore are laughing for him (Keyes, 1966, s. 40). Charlie also understands that his coworkers are starting to fear and resent him for growing out of them intellectually (Keyes, 1966, pp. 55-6). At least with respect to his work, Steve goes via being a completely happy mentally disabled man with friends to a lonely professional. These are just two types of the novel’s tragic themes but certainly Charlie’s rapid gain/loss, his awareness of it, his likely death by it, fantastic growing loneliness are all tragic.
Flowers pertaining to Algernon is definitely
