book blog nov 22

Nothing in our minds is ever really gone. The operation had covered him over with a veneer of education and culture, but emotionally he was there--watching and waiting

This short passage is one i find very intriguing as we see the doctor talking to the others abut charlie and his intelligence deteriorating over time and how he was still the charlie of yesterdays emotionally, but masked by a his giant leap of intelligence. Plus the first sentence "Nothing in our minds is ever really gone." Relates not only to this story but are brain functions in general. The doctors theory is that once we learn something ultimately it still going to be there be it in the subconscious or not we never lose it. The question of how we remember things and if we really lose are memory for good or it just gets jumbled is still being brought up to this day so this passage is really relevant


Q:
How much longer will charlies IQ deteriorate
will he ultimately end up like Algernon
Did the scientists plan for this to happen
What will they do to accommodate for Charlie woes and losses

nov 16

I beet Algernon. I dint even know I beet him until Burt Selden told me. Then the second time I lost because I got so excited. But after that I beet him 8 more times. I must be getting smart to beat a smart mouse like Algernon. But I dont feel smarter." PR 8, pg. 22

This is the first time Charlie has beaten Algernon in the "maze game" which shows that the operation has been a success. Also this shows how he has been dehumanized by society for being less intelligent because it has made an impression on him if he knows it or not."But I dont feel smarter." this quote is what i mean. He has been given a model of what smart is suppose to be by the society around him and know he thinks if he cant reach that model he will not be labeled smart. This just shows that the operation still has to take effect because if he was smart he would realized its not what others draw up what smart its how you feel about your maximum performance in life. Also the reader can tell the operation has work because in this progress report he has a lot more words spelled correctly than before and also he can understand his mistakes by saying "second time I lost because I got so excited."


questions...
1.when will algernon iontellgience start to deteriorate
2.what can charlie do now other than beat algernon that he couldnt do before
3.Did everything go to the doctors plan accordingly

nov.15

I thought i'd write about something different the preface it still deals with the book i think

Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eye are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees any one whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will first ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter life, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess of light. And he will count the one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other..." The Republic, Preface

This is the preface passage for the book im reading Flowers For Algernon. It is taken from the book The Republic. From all the books ive ever read the preface passage(if theres even one at all) deals with book and its thematic elements. I'm trying to comprehend this passage and relate it to Flowers For Algernon the author of my book seems to see a connection cause if he didn't he wouldn't even chose it to begin with. "the eye are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light." I think this sentence reprsents charlie the main character in my book going through his transformation of becoming a very intelligent person from a very unintelligent. "And he will count the one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other..." this quote is saying how the more evolved man the n more overall man will look down upon his inferiors and have no remorse and no pity for actions so i think once charlie goes through his transformation he will come out a smarter person and even surpass the scientist that were working on him and become bigheaded and egotistical.

questions....
1.what is the republic about.
2.is there any similarities between charlie and the main character in the republic?

post nov 13.2008

"...all my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb and my mom always tolld me to try and lern just like Miss Kinnian tells me but its very hard to be smart and even when I lern something in Miss Kinnians class at the school I ferget alot." PR 3, pg. 3

I find this passage very common to the world of a teenager or just any student in general. Yes this comes from a profoundly retarded man but it holds true. We all strive to be the smartest and learn in school but as charlie states "its very hard to be smart." This passage represents the essence of this book so far the theory of intelligence and how it is viewed in society and what we find synonymous with high intelligence and what we relate low intelligence to. I think once charlie goes through the procedure he will get a view from the other side of the spectrum and start to realize its not how smart you are or what type of intelligence you have but what you do with the brain you are given.Also his mother is mentioned in this passage prior to this part his family hasn't not been mentioned so i wonder how they are going to take part in charlie's life after the procedure

questions...
1 will w3e ever get to see what happened to his family
2 how does his family feel about his operation
3 what are miss kinnani intentions and thoughts on charlie