A Short Happy Moment of Charlie's Life in Flower For

Home , Flowers for Algernon

A SHORT HAPPY MOMENT OF CHARLIE’S LIFE IN FLOWER

FOR ALGERNON BY DANIEL KEYES

A THESIS

RINI AGUSTINA

REG. NO. 080705008

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES

UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA

MEDAN 2012

Universitas Sumatera Utara AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

I RINI AGUSTINA DECLARE THAT I AM THE SOLE AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL PUBLISED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OR AWARDED ANOTHER DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN THE MAIN TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF ANOTHER DEGREE IN ANY TERTIARY EDUCATION.

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Date : Dec 18th 2012

Universitas Sumatera Utara COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

NAME : RINI AGUSTINA

TITLE OF THESIS : A SHORT HAPPY MOMENT OF CHARLIE’S LIFE IN FLOWER FOR ALGERNON BY DANIEL KEYES

QUALIFICATIONS : S-1/SARJANA SASTRA

DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH

I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.

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Universitas Sumatera Utara ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Praise and honor to my Lord Allah STW for blessing me every day in my life and guide me also help me, especially during the process of finishing this thesis.

I believe He always on my side and enlighten my way.

I am also grateful to The Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of

Sumatera Utara, Dr. H. Syahron Lubis, M. A. The Head of English Department,

Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, M. S. and the Secretary of English Department Dr. Hj.

Nurlela, M. Hum. for their advice and encouragement during my study in this faculty.

I also would like to express my gratitude to Dra. Redita Lubis, Dip. Appl.

Ling., M.Hum. as my academic supervisor also supervisor in making this thesis and

Drs. Siamir Marulafau, M.Hum. as my co-supervisor thank you for your precious time for helping, correcting and guiding me until the thesis accomplished. My gratitude is also expressed to all of my lectures in English Department who taught me much and contributed the knowledge during the academic years.

My deepest gratitude to my wonderful family, to my beloved parents, Amril and Yulis thank you for great spirit, patience, pray and an endless love you always give to me. Thank you for my lovely sister Suryani, although she is away from here,

Bekasi, she always cares me, asks me about my thesis, sent me some novels to choice , always calls me via handphone, and for my younger sister Nurhasanah, thanks for your helping to type my thesis at midnight, help me to check it and provide anything I need during the making of this thesis.

Universitas Sumatera Utara My lovely boyfriend Etonk, thanks for your spirit, can make me smile even when I stress, you always know how to make me laugh, positive thinking. The one who always listen my difficult, carry me to Gramedia, I hope you always beside me.

My best friends, Ruri, Dina and Shinta thanks to you guys for accompanied me always and for the craziness also silliness we have. Thanks to all my classmate stambuk 2008 that I can not mention one by one including Bang Amran who has helped me very much, I love you guys!

Medan, 2012

The writer,

Rini Agustina

REG. NO. 080705008

Universitas Sumatera Utara ABSTRACT

Skripsi ini berjudul A Short Happy Moment of Charlie’s Life in Daniel Keyes’s Novel, Flower for Algernon. Skripsi ini menganalisa tentang karakter dua tokoh utama dalam novel. Tokoh utama pertama bernama Charlie dan Tokoh kedua bernama Alice Kinnian. Charlie adalah seorang yang terlahir dengan IQ 68 berusia tiga puluh dua tahun dan bekerja di sebuah toko Roti. Sedangkan Alice adalah Guru Charlie yang mengajar khusus untuk orang yang terbelakang mental. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan intrinsik yaitu menganalisis dua tokoh utama dalam novel berdasarkan teori intrinsik oleh Rene Wellek. Adapun metode yang dipakai penulis dalam penulisan skripsi ini adalah metode analisis deskriptif yang bertujuan menggambarkan karakteristik dari dua tokoh utama . Berdasarkan analisis yang telah dilakukan, diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa dua karakter utama tersebut adalah karakter yang bermoral. Dan di akhir skripsi ini terdapat lampiran lampiran yang berupa biografi pengarang dan ringkasan cerita disajikan untuk memudahkan pembaca memahami skripsi ini.

Universitas Sumatera Utara TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………….....…...i

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………..……..ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………...…………………..…….…..………..iii

LIST OF CHART………………...………………………………..……………….iv

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study…………………..……….1

1.2 Problem of the Study……………..………..…….…...4

1.3 Objective of the Study…………..………...... ….…….4

1.4 Scope of the Study……………….....….……………..4

1.5 Significance of the Study……………………………..5

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Intrinsic Approach …………………………………...6

2.2 Definition of Novel …………………….……..……8

2.3 Definition of Character……………..…….…………11

Universitas Sumatera Utara CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH

3.1 Research Design……………..……………………....14

3.2 Data Collecting………….……………..…………..16

3.3 Data Analyzing…………...... ……………………..17

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS AND FINDING

4.1 Charlie Gordon...….………...…………………….…18

4.2 Alice Kinnian…...………….………………...... 26

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusion...……………………………………….29

5.2 Suggestion………………...……………………….31

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 ; THE BIOGHRAPHY OF DANIEL KEYES

Appendix 2 ; THE SUMMARY OF FLOWER FOR ALGERNON

Universitas Sumatera Utara LIST OF CHART

Chart 3. 1 RESEARCH DESIGN………………………………………..………18

Universitas Sumatera Utara ABSTRACT

Universitas Sumatera Utara CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

According Julien Bonn (2012;93) Literature includes poetry, drama, fiction and many kinds of non fiction writing, as well as oral, dramatic and broadcast compositions, not necessarily preserved in a written format such as films and television programs.

The fiction works discussed in this thesis is a Novel. According to Julien Bonn

(2010;112) Novel is a long fictional narrative written in prose, which developed from the novella and other early forms of narrative. A Novel is usually organized under a plot or theme with a focus on the character development and action. Actions and the characters in the novel made by the writer themelves. So an action and the events of the novel can be a real story in everyday life can be ambitions, sadness, joy, happiness, sense, logic, and many others are based on the fact of one’s life. So in this thesis the writer analysis the character dominately, plot, setting and theme just little explained. According to Roberts (1990;45) character is the imaginary person that the author creates and can be classified as major and minor character. Major character is an important figure at the centre of story’s action or theme whereas minor is the character which support the major character and to illuminate them. According Julien

Bonn (2010;128) Plot is an author’s selection and arrangement of incidents in a story to shape the action and give the story a particular focus. Discussion of plot include not just what happens, but also how and why things happens happen the way they do.

Universitas Sumatera Utara Stories that are written in a pyramidal pattern divide the plot three essential parts.

The first part is the rising action, in which complications created some sort of conflict for the protagonist. The second part is the climax, the moment of greatest emotional tension in a narrative, usually marking a turning point in the plot at which the rising action reserves to become the falling action. The third part, the falling action (or resolution) is characterized by diminishing tensions and the resolution of the plot’s conflict and complications. In media’s res is a term used to described the common strategy of beginning a story in the middle of the action. In this type of plot, we enter the story on the verge of some important moment.

According to Julien Bonn (2010;153) Setting is the time, place, culture in which the action of the narrative takes place. The elements of setting may include geographyc location, characters pyshical, and mental environments, prevailing cultural attitudes or the historical time in which the action takes place. According to

Julien Bonn (2010;171) Theme is a central idea or statement that unifies and controls the entire work. The theme can take the form of a brief and meaningful insight or a comprehensive vision of life, it may be a single idea.

“Flower for Algernon” is the novel written by Daniel Keyes was born August

9, 1972 is an American author best known for his Hugo Award - Winning short story and Nebula Award – Winning novel “Flower for Algernon”. Keyes was given the

Author Emeritus honor by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2000.

The writer interested in analysis this Novel because Daniel Keyes was able to make a rare story about a mentally retarded named Charlie had a short happy moment and able make a Fantasy story. Then the writer prefer to Novel than poetry or drama.

Therefore the writer wish to study “Flower for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes.

Universitas Sumatera Utara The novel tells the story of Charlie Gordon has an IQ of 68 and has job at a bakery. Charlie narrates his experience through ‘progress reports’, which he has agreed to submit himself to experimental surgery in order to improve his intelligence.

The reports reveal Charlie’s experience in the bakery to which the owner, his uncle’s friend, has brought him from the Warren State Home for retarted people. Charlie becomes a part of the bakery, and considers the people there as his friends. Yet, he is dissatisfied and wants to be ‘smart’. So, he joins a special school for retarted people at Beckman College. Charlie attends reading and writing classes at Beekman College

Center for Retarded Adult to improve himself. After this, his teacher, Alice Kinnian, recommends him to a research team at Beckman psychology department. Alice as a teacher is a young attractive woman. Two scientist at Beekman are looking for a human test subject on whom to try an experimental medicine to increase intelligent.

They have already try this experimental medicine on a mouse named Algernon which be success intelligent. Alice support Charlie to undergo that experimental medicine. Charlie then undergoes weeks of testing and competing with a white mouse, Algernon at completing mazes. He is depressed when the mouse beats him every time. The operation takes place and Charlie is disappointed at not ‘getting smart’ immediately. However, he is assured that he will progress gradually, but steadily. Over a period of time, Charlie finds himself being able to read more, win some mazes and master complex processes at the bakery. He is disillusioned with many of them. He has to spend a lot of time reading and being tested at the Beckman lab. By now, he knows that Algernon has also had surgery similar to his, which accounts for his intelligence. Charlie surges ahead in gathering knowledge and mastering languages. He begins to see his supportive teacher Alice, as an attractive young woman. They become close and he tries to make love to her. On several

Universitas Sumatera Utara occasions, he finds he has a violent physical reaction when he is making love to her and therefore has to stop. He can’t understand why this happens. Around the same time, Charlie’s repressed memories of his home, surface. Disturbing scenes, like, his mother pushing him to study or others when he is being pushed aside in favor of his younger sister, flash through his memory. Charlie is upset, but he finds his newfound intellectual ability thrilling and works hard. He finds that he and Algernon are to be taken to Chicago for a convention, at which Numer will present the findings of the team. The experimental is success. Charlie has an IQ 185 now. However, as his intelligent increases, his relationship with people be bad. Finally intellectual of

Charlie be regresses. He said sorry for his parents co-workers. In a final postscript to his writings, he request that someone put flower on Algernon’s grave.

1.2 Problem of the Study

This thesis is going to find whether Charlie really have A Short Happy moment after an Experimental Medicine success?

1.3 Objective of the Study

The aim of this thesis is to describe whether Charlie really have a short happy moment after an Experimental Medicine success.

1.4 Scope of the study

Scope of the study is only analyzing characters in Flower for Algernon.

Universitas Sumatera Utara 1.5 Significant of the study

Significant of the study is to improve the learning of literature, especially literary novels in addition to drama and poetry. Another significant is that there are moral lessons to understand of the main character.

Universitas Sumatera Utara

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Intrinsic Approach

Basically an Approach divide into two types. They are The instrinsic approach and The extrinsic approach. The intrinsic approach was originally written by Rene

Wellek and Austin Warren in their book “Theory of Literature”. Rene Wellek introduced his instrinsic approach, which essentially is a study of literary work based on analyzing the internal elements that build that work. According to Wellek (1962;

332) The natural on sensible starting point for work in literary scholarship is the interpretation and analysis of the works of literary themselves. After all, only the works themselves justify all our interest in the life of an author, in his social environment, and the whole process of literature.

Wellek’s opinion is that the study of literature naturally needs to be started from the analysis of the literary work itself because then it would enable us to identify he many aspects that built that work. Wellek further explained by introducing elements that from the foundation of a literary work, plot, setting, theme, character, point of view, and style. By analyzing these elements, a student could comprehend the work by figuring out how the story flows, where the story is set, how the characters act and think. Although so many of elements of novel, the writer just pick three of that all. Three elements disccused are plot, setting and theme. Three of element enough describe clear detail about a short happy moment of Charlie’s life.

Universitas Sumatera Utara Element of plot, setting and theme summarized at describe about character in the same time.

Intrinsic approach takes part from the literary work itself. Intrinsic approach emphasizes the analysis intertext by describing the elements of the prose that explained before. Intrinsic approach applied by the writer in order to show the elements of the novel. Parts of elements of the prose are characters, plot, setting, theme, and point of view. This research uses those elements of prose because those elements are related. Wellek and Warren (1977: 139) in their book “Theory of

Literature” said that intrinsic approach are being introduced based on a survey of the wider range of forms in modern literature. They also stated that the main part of intrinsic approach is based on the text of literary works itself by doing an interpretation and analysis of it (1977: 139).

While definition of extrinsic approach which was originally written by Rene

Wellek and Austin Warren in their book “Theory of Literature” too. Rene Wellek introduced his extrinsic approach such as biography, psychology, social milieu, ideas, and other arts. This is opposed elements intrinsic to a study work, which explored in section. They write that research into extrinsic elements often results in an attempt to establish some casuality between the extrinsic elements and a study of work.

Wellek and warren describe three views of a biographical approach, of which only one the biographical aspects relating to the production of a work. They reject the views that works accurately reflect the author’s life or that the author’s life must be understood in order to understand a particular work. According to wellek and warren, works may indeed reflect the author;s experiences, but they must also reflect

Universitas Sumatera Utara an author’s hopes and dreams, or literary tradition and convention and not a document for biography.

2.2 Definition of Novel

According Julien Bonn (2010:93) Literature includes poetry, drama, fiction and many kinds of non-fiction writing, as well as oral, dramatic and broadcast compositions, not necessarily preserved in a written format such as films and television programs.

The fiction works discussed in this thesis is a novel. According Julien Bonn

(2010: 112) novel is a long fictional narrative written in prose, which developed from the novella and other early forms of narrative. A novel is usually organized under a plot or theme with a focus on character development and action. Action and the characters in the novel made by the writers themselves. So an action and the events of the novel can be a real story in everyday life can be ambition, sadness, joy, happiness, sense, logic, and many others are based on the facts of one’s life.

A novel should be interpreted if it completely. The interpretation of a novel is a generally done trough the examination of the aspects of the novel itself. Character is an important aspects of novel because when we talk about the novel, it may ask : who are the character in the novel ? How are characters portrayals in the novel ?

What’s conflict ? What theme of the novel ? etc. Talking about character and its character portrayal is more interesting than other five aspects of novel. But it does not mean that the other five aspects are not important.

There are some kinds of novel that found in contemporary publishing :

Universitas Sumatera Utara Action-Adventure

Action-Adventure fiction, traditionally (but not exclusively) aimed at male readers, features physical action and violence, often around a quest or military-style mission set in exotic or forbidding locales such as jungles, desserts, or mountains.

Crime

Crime fiction stories, centered on criminal enterprise, are told from the point of the perpetrators. They range in tone from lighthearted “caper” stories to darker plots involving organized crime or incarcerated convicts.

Detective

Detective fiction has become almost synonymous with mystery. These stories relate the solving of the crime, usually one or more murders, by a protagonist who may or may not be a professional investigator. This large, popular genre has many subgenres, reflecting differences in tone, character, and it always contains criminal and detective settings.

Fantasy

Fantasy features fiction stories set in fanciful, invented worlds, an alternate and more fanciful version of our own world or in legendary, mythic past. Fantasy fiction stories generally involve magic, mystical elements, or supernatural creatures. The genre’s relatively loose definition means it includes a large number of works in styles ranging from pseudo-mythological epics to more deliberately modern works, and includes works which also fall under genres, such as horror fiction, comedy, action- adventure or Romance. Some works generally classified as fantasy fiction also

Universitas Sumatera Utara include elements of science fiction, and with many works revolving around psychic, ghosts, etc. being easily classified as either, some bookstores and critics tend to categorize the two genres together as speculative fiction.

Horror

Horror fiction aims to evoke some combination of fear, fascination, and revulsion in its readers. This genre, like others, continues, to develop, recently moving away from stories with a religious or supernatural basis to ones making us of medical or psychological ideologies.

Mystery

Mystery fiction, technically involving stories in which characters try to discover a vital piece of information which is kept hidden until the climax, is now considered by many people almost a synonym for detective fiction. The standard novel stocked in the mystery section of bookstores is a whodunit.

Romance

Romance is currently the largest and best-selling fiction genre in North

America. It has produced a wide array of subgenres, the majority of which feature the mutual attraction and love of a man and a woman as the main plot, and have a happy ending. This genre, much like fantasy fiction, is broad enough in definition that it is easily and commonly seen combined with other genres, such as comedy, fantasy fiction, realistic fiction, or action-adventure.

Universitas Sumatera Utara 2.3 Definition of Character

Character is one of the most important elements in literature, character holds the main role in a story of literature such as novel, drama, tale, and poem. In literature, the characters are not only in the form of human, but also it can be animals. Even, the human as the characters in a story are still dominant. Characters as the person that presented in the literary work, that their appearance is interpreted by the reader as being endowed with desires, motivation, and emotional qualities that are expressed in their appearance is interpreted by the reader as being endowed with desires, motivation and emotional qualities that are expressed in their saying and action in the story. On the other word, character in in the fiction work is the representative and the description of personal qualities in the real life. Therefore, although the character in the literary works is fictitious, they have the personal qualities as the real person.

According to Robert (1993;20) characters are the person in dramatic of narratives work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with the moral and dissapotional qualities that are expressed in what they say in the dialogue and what they do the action. Based on that statement, it is clearly seen that the character is created by the author and applied on the story that they characteristic are closely to the real person in real life., so that character in he fiction works will be able to present the real person in the person in the novel, through their actions and speeches.

According to Robert too (1990;45) character is the imaginary person that the author creates and can be classified as major and minor character. Major character is an important figure at the centre of story’s action or theme whereas minor is the character which support the major character and to illuminate them. From that

Universitas Sumatera Utara explanation, can conclude that the character is human, animal, object that are created by the author, is human. To get a better understanding through the description above, we must able to understand what the character’s do. We should know the character personalities by catching the ideas among the speeches, observing their actions and following their feelings. The writer in this discuss explain about the character as a mentally retarded and his teacher which are found in the novel. Charlie Gordon as the main character and Alice Kinnian as the minor character.

The British novelist and critic E. M. Foster, in his critical work Aspect of the

Novel says that there are two major types of character. They are round character

(main character) and flat character (minor character). Main characters are full, complex and rich whereas minor characters are the simple ones.

The Main Character

In the story of the Novel. Several kinds of characters will involve throughout the entire story f the novel. The reader of the novel will find so many character during reading the novel, some characters may appear for almost the entire story, and the others characters may appear slightly. The characters that can be found in the story of the novel have different function to the novel, some characters may give the most great influence to the story, and some may give little influence to the story, or even do not have the influence to all the story at all. The character whose appearance is the most frequently appear in the story and dominated the plot of the story is occasionally called as the main character.

Universitas Sumatera Utara The Minor Character

The minor character can be defined as the supporting of main characters that their function is to illuminate the major character. The appearance of minor character usually infrequently, it is so much different from the appearance of the main character in the story who always dominate for the entire story. The minor character role are also seems not important as the role of the main character, although the minor characters sometimes related to the major characters directly.

Universitas Sumatera Utara

CHAPTER III

METHOD OF RESEARCH

3.1 Research Design

This thesis analyzes the characters in Daniel Keyes’s novel, Flower for

Algernon as object of analysis in this thesis. The writer focus on literal data with applies library research by collecting the data from some books and other related sources that related to the subject matter that will be analyzed in this thesis. as object of analysis in this thesis. It is also needed a search data from internet to complete the data that had been collected. The writer uses intrinsic approach in doing the analysis because the writer analyzed the character of novel which becomes the elements of a novel. Beside, the method that used by the writer is descriptive research. According

John W Best (1982:42) Descriptive research is a method of examining a group of people, an object, a set of conditions, a system of thought, or a class of events in the present. The goal is to create a description, picture, or painting in a systematic, factual, accurate information about the facts, properties and relationships between phenomena are investigated. The term descriptive research refers to the type of research question, design, and data analysis that will be applied to a given topic.

The Research method used is descriptive research. According John W Best

(1982:42) Descriptive research is a method of examining a group of people, an object, a set of conditions, a system of thought, or a class of events in the present.

Universitas Sumatera Utara The goal is to create a description, picture, or painting in a systematic, factual, accurate information about the facts, properties and relationships between phenomena are investigated. The term descriptive research refers to the type of research question, design, and data analysis that will be applied to a given topic.

Descriptive research study the problems in society, and rules in the community and particular situation, including relationships, activities, attitudes, views, and the influence of a phenomenon. In Descriptive research, researchers could compare the specific phenomenon that is a comparative study. sometimes researchers make clarifications, and the study of phenomena by specifying a particular norm that many experts call this method with a name normative survey.

Descriptive research also investigate the factors and see the status of relationship between one factor with another factor. Therefore, the method is also called a status study. Descriptive research also wanted to study the norm so that this

Descriptive research called normative survey. In Descriptive research can studied normative problem together with status problem and make comparative between phenomena. That study generally called Descriptive research. perspective of time to reach the Descriptive research, is now time, or at least reasonable period of time in the memory of respondents.

In order to analyze the characters in flower for Algernon, first of all, the novel is read to find the supporting data for the analysis in this thesis, then the relevant data that found, are used as the source of the idea which support to the topic being discuss in this thesis all are collected and then applied in finishing this thesis. This is important to do because each of them is closely connected to one another to support the story of the novel. This thesis uses several books as the sources of the data, the

Universitas Sumatera Utara main source of the data acquired from the novel which is being discuss in this thesis, which is that novel is written by Daniel Keyes entitled Flower for Algernon, this novel as the primary source of the data that this thesis used to obtain the character found from two character. The secondary data is drawn from others books as the references which the books are the most concerned about the character in the fiction work especially novel. The important and the relevant information from these books are marked and underlined so that it can be used to support the analysis of this thesis, these books finally also used as the references for this thesis. Some of data that found from the internet also used as the supporting references in finishing this thesis.

Applying descriptive method to analyzing this thesis, in this step all the data from novel would be described. Then analysis using intrinsic approach and get the findings. And the last is after doing all steps above the writer makes the conclusion of the analysis.

3.2 Data Collection

All of the data and information that related to the topic of this thesis are collected, then the data will be selected and used in the process of finishing this thesis. In this step, the character found from two characters as the primary data for this thesis are narrowed in order to focus the discussion matter to the analysis, so the discussion will not going too far from the topic. Select some quotation which become my data in the analysis. These quotations are taken from the text of the novel in order to strengthen then my analysis . In doing the analysis I do interpret the text the far proper understanding of the text. Since the focuses of analysis is internal elements of the novel. The method I applied is known as intrinsic method of analysis.

Universitas Sumatera Utara Meanwhile, the data and information found from the related books will be drawn to this thesis in order to support the analysis in this thesis.

3.3 Data Analysis

All the collected and selected data are being analyzed to achieve what has been planned in the objective of this thesis. For chapter one, the writer took the book

Theory of Literature by Wellek and Warren (1997). Defenition of literature, definition of Novel according Julien Bonn, definition of character according Robert, explanation about the Novel explained in the backround. In analyzing elements of fiction, the writer uses the book Literature: An Introduction to Reading And Writing by Roberts and Jacobs (1993). The elements of fiction are character, plot, structure and theme. These theories are also used in chapter two as the review of literature. In analyzing text, the writer takes the quotation from short story which relate to analysis, for example to explain the physical of character “Charlie”, the writer take the quotation below:

My name is Charlie Gordon I werk in Dormers bakery where Mr Donner gives me 11 dollers a week and bred or cake if I want. I am 32 yeres old and next munth is my brithday. I tolld dr Strauss and perfesser Nemur I cant rite good but he says it dont matter. (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:8)

In analyzing the data, the writer uses descriptive method. Descriptive method is a method in researching the status of a group of people, an object, a set of conditions, a system of thought or a class of events during now. The purpose of this descriptive study is to make the description, or painting a picture in a systematic, factual and accurate as to facts, properties and relationships of phenomenon investigated. For example, description of character is written in detail, that is

Universitas Sumatera Utara description from physical, character’s job and information of morality. Best (1982:

42) explained the purpose of descriptive method is only to describe all the things that found in the short stories as the object of analysis. The writer also uses intrinsic approach to analyze the text. The writer applies theory of literature by Wellek and

Warren, that is intrinsic approach and one of the elements of fiction, namely character by Robert and Jacobs. This intrinsic approach is used to analyze the character detail by describing all the things that the writer has found in two short stories.

Reading the novel Making conclusion Flower for Algernon and suggestion by Daniel Keyes

Analyzing the data Deciding the problem and finding the of analysis answer of problems

Finding related Using intrinsic theory approach and applying descriptive method and theory

Choosing and Taking data from the collecting the data from novel, references and the novel and other source references from the

Universitas Sumatera Utara CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS AND FINDING

4.1 Analysis

4.1.1. Charlie

In the novel of Flower For Algernon by Daniel Keyes, Charlie as the main character that Charlie is a thirty two years old mentally retarded man who lives in

New York City. Charlie has IQ 68. Charlie’s condition make him a trusting and friendly man, as he assumes that the people in his life, his coworkers at Donner’s

Bakery are as well intentioned as he is. According Charlie’s opinion his cowokers is best friend for him. Besides, Charlie described as a spirit man who wanting to improve himself, he attends reading and writing classes at the Beekman College

Center for Retarded Adults, his teacher is Alice Kinnian, a young, attractive woman.

Charlie is a man can not wait to improve for long time so he take shortcut with he accept suggestion from two researchers at Beekman are looking for a human test subject on whom to try a new operation technique to increase intelligence. They have already try the operation on a mouse named Algernon, dramatically improving his mental performance. Based on Alice's recommendation as teacher.

Charlie is a man who dare to take risks. Charlie don’t care about the operation if the operatin be failed. Event though Dr. Strauss informs Charlie that he can't be sure how the experiment will affect Charlie. Nevertheless, Charlie wants to take part

Universitas Sumatera Utara because all his life he has wanted to be smarter. He don’t scared if sometimes wrong happens with that experiment or even nothing result.

Dr Strauss said you know Charlie we are not shure how this experamint will werk on pepul because we onley tried it up to now on animils. I said thats what Miss Kinnian tolld me but I dont even care if it herts or anything because Im strong and I will werk hard. I want to get smart if they will let me. (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:13)

Charlie is a hard-working man. The fact that Charlie isn't upset or disturbed that he is less intelligent than a mouse suggests his limited emotional range. When

Charlie can't grasp how to solve a printed maze, researcher Burt Selden introduces him to Algernon, a white mouse that has been trained to run a model maze. As quoted: “Burt took a wite mouse out of the cage and showd him to me. Burt said thats Algernon and he can do this amazed very good.” (Keyes, Daniel, 1959: 17)

Burt suggests that Charlie and Algernon "race" each other to see who can complete the maze first. Algernon repeatedly defeats Charlie, and Charlie is amazed that the mouse is so smart. Charlie lost from Algernon. Charlie's developing emotions. Whereas before the operation Charlie was a very mild-mannered, he begins to experience a much wider range of emotions, including anger and sympathy.

The first is that he becomes angry with Algernon, who continues to beat him in the maze races. He also becomes frustrated that he must repeatedly take tests at the college and that he doesn't seem to be getting any smarter. Charlie begins experiencing headaches, and his thoughts seem to be changing. Charlie returns to work at the bakery but has been reminded not to tell anyone about the operation. He learns that Algernon had the same operation and believes that's why the mouse is so smart, however, he does not comprehend the fact that the experiment has been

Universitas Sumatera Utara attempted on other mice, who haven't remained intelligent. When Charlie returns to work, he is teased by his fellow workers, but he doesn't understand that they are making fun of him. He believes that their actions are all good fun and that the men truly like him. Charlie meets Ernie, a young man hired to cover Charlie's work when he was absent during his operation and recovery.

Charlie’s intelligent raises many new problems in his life like emotional are beginning to arise. A deeper sense of self-awareness has definitely blossomed in him, as is evident in his anger at others and his suspicion directed at those he imagines are making fun of him. His dreams suggest that he might have been emotionally stunted by the events of his youth. Finally, the odd feelings stirred by his dance with the woman at the party, co mbined with his wet dream, make it clear that he is beginning to develop as a sexual being.

One day, a bakery worker who mixes the dough has quit, and Frank and Joe suggest that Charlie take over the job. The joke, however, backfires as Charlie demonstrates that he can actually mix the dough better than the original worker. Mr.

Donner, owner of the bakery, promotes Charlie, which angers Frank.

“Frank Reilly said shut up Fanny its April fools day and if Charlie works on the mixer he might fix it good so we will all have the day off. I said I coudnt fix the mashine but I could work it because I been watching Oliver ever since I got back. I worked the dough- mixer and everybody was surprised espeshully Frank Reilly” (Keyes, Daniel, 1959: 59)

Charlie learns about punctuation and grammar, and his writing makes a marked improvement. He is reading more and even starts learning geography and mathematics. He has developed a solid memory, and his IQ has improved to about

100. Charlie recalls memories of his mother, the birth of his sister, and an incident

Universitas Sumatera Utara when his mother feared that he would harm his sister. He cannot, however, remember off all.

Charlie behaviour be change when his intelligent grows. Charlie relationships be bad with all people. Charlie be sensitive, easy to angry with other people.

The way I said it, he knew I was angry, and he looked up at me surprised. "Anything wrong, Charlie?" "No, nothing's wrong. Those inkblots upset me." He smiled and shook his head. "Nothing to be upset about. This is just one of the standard personality tests” (Keyes, Daniel, 1959: 88)

Charlie's personality is beginning to divide into two distinct individuals: the old unintelligent Charlie and the new intelligent Charlie. Asking Miss Kinnian to a movie represents a clear step in Charlie's emotional and sexual growth; he has reached an pubescent level in this section. Charlie's think that Strauss and Nemur are not great but ordinary men suggests that his intellect is approaching theirs. His interest in spending time with other college students shows a deeper integration into a community. It will be prove for the statement below: “I slipped away to walk and think this out. Frauds-both of them. They had pretended to be geniuses. But they were just ordinary men working blindly, pretending to be able to bring light into the darkness. Why is it that everyone lies? No one I know is what he appears to be”

(Keyes, Daniel, 1959:222)

Charlie's visit to his mother and sister show that a strong sense of forgiveness and compassion has developed in him. Charlie is neither angry nor bitter that his parents sent him away; he seems to realize that their actions toward him and their decision to send him to the Warren Home had as great an impact on them as it did on him. Rose just scared Charlie would danger his siste

Universitas Sumatera Utara Rose was on her feet. She had taken the kitchen knife from the table and was pointing at me. "What are you doing to her? Get away from her! I told you what I'd do to you if I ever caught you touching your sister againl Dirty mind! You don't belong with normal people! (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:404)

Charlie learns to forgive his family and give and receive love before he reverts to his previous mental retardation. Unfortunately, the procedure's effect is not permanent, and Charlie eventually regresses to his original state of mind. Charlie's mental regression is happening quite rapidly. He loses his intelligent, he can no longer think critically or read and write effectively. When Charlie fails to recognize or understand Don Quixote, we realize that he can no longer comprehend deeper meaning, like symbol and metaphor. The brevity of his journal entries indicates that the act of writing is becoming difficult for him and that his thoughts are becoming original state of mind. Charlie also begins to low self-esteem emotionally. Though he first accepts help from Alice, it is as if his world were isolated.

Charlie's lack of understanding of general medical procedures further illustrates his limited intellect. Hilda's comments introduce a main theme in the novel, namely whether man has the right to tamper with God's work. Charlie's ability to remember how to spell the words "progress" and "report" offers the first evidence of his improved mental power. However, Charlie does not recognize the change in himself. The operation was performed in his sleep.

Charlie's first nurse, Hilda, is replaced after telling him that perhaps the operation shouldn't have been performed, suggesting that it was against God's will. It will be prove for the statement below: “The skinney nerses name is Hilda, She says mabey I better prey to god to ask him to forgiv what they done to me. I dint eat no

Universitas Sumatera Utara appels or do nothing sinful. And now Im skared. Mabey I shoudnt of let them oparate on my branes like she said if its agenst god. I dont want to make god angrey”

(Keyes, Daniel, 1959:31)

Charlie doesn't have much of an imagination. He thinks on a very literal level. Charlie believe with superstition. He said that he got lucky rabits foot and he never break a mirror in his life, he has lucky penny and his horseshoe.

“I hope I have luk. I got my rabits foot and my luky penny and my horshoe. Dr Strauss said dont be so superstishus Charlie. Anyway Im keeping my rabits foot in one hand and my luky penny in the other hand with the hole in it. The penny I meen. I wish I coud take the horshoe with me to but its hevy so Ill just leeve it in my jaket” (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:24)

In one part, the clear description that in charlie’s mind she wanted to be clever, understand with all his friend talking. This is can make he has much friend, in which they would care of him, understand and respect her thoughts or decisions. In fact, charlie’s mother is very hate himself and often brutally punished Charlie for not being normal like other children because she ashamed have a child with a mentally disabled adult with a very low IQ. Charlie’s mother refused to accept that Charlie was mentally disabled adult. Charlie’s father tried to protect Charlie from mother’s hostility, he gave in too easily to her bullying.

Charlie displays sympathy as he feels sorry for Crusoe because he is so isolated and alone. As his intelligence grows, however, Charlie gains perspective on his past and present. Charlie’s behavior be change. Charlie realizes that people have often taken advantage of him and cowokers often underestimate him.

Universitas Sumatera Utara Charlie is honest man. Charlie know that Gimpy has been stealing money from Donner's bakery. He doesn't want to believe it, but he finally accepts that it is happening. He reasons that Gimpy has made him part of the theft by having getting him deliver under-priced packages to customers. Charlie's emotions turn to anger; he wants to strike Gimpy for his actions, but he doesn't believe that he could actually perform an act of violence on another human being. He knows he must inform Mr.

Donner, but he's not sure what to do. He discusses the issue with Alice

She sipped her coffee and listened quietly as I explained how I had found out about Gimpy's cheating, my own reaction, and the conflicting advice I'd gotten at the lab. When I finished, she sat back and shook her head. (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:430)

Charlie's writing become less, and his understanding of the events around him becomes less clear. Charlie love Alice more than just himself. Charlie being to take over as the regression reaches its final stage. Charlie's writing become less, and his understanding of the events around him becomes less clear. The bakery workers forgive Charlie.

In a final postscript to his writings, Charlie requests that someone put flowers on Algernon's grave.

“P.S. please tel prof Nemur not to be such a grouch when pepul laff at him and he woud have more frends. Its easy to have fiends if you let pepul laff at you. Im going to have lots of fiends where I go. P.S. please if you get a chanse put some flown on Algernons grave in the bak yard” (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:457)

The summarize above is Charlie is a thirty two year old mentally retarded man who lives in the New York City. Charlie has IQ 68. Charlie work at Donner’s

Bakery. Charlie as a spirit man, Charlie is not patient to be intelligent, a man who

Universitas Sumatera Utara dare to take risks, a hard working man. Charlie’s low intelligent raises many new problems in his life. Such as when Charlie learns about punctuation and grammar,

Charlie easily getting annoy and always be angry to other people if other people wrong him. Charlie relationships become worst and worst with all people. Charlie fall in love with Alice but Alice refuses Charlie. The refused of Alice make Charlie become down, and his understanding of the events around him becomes less. The bakery workers forgive Charlie. In a final postscript to his writings, Charlie requests that someone put flowers on Algernon's grave when he dies Charlie is a honest man, forgiver and avoid to do wicked behavior. So the fact of Charlie after undergos The

Experimental Medicine only around six months he is ever be clever, chalie really have a short happy moment.

4.1.2 Alice Kinnian

Alice Kinnian is Charlie's teacher at Beekman School for Retarded Adults, where Charlie attends night classes in reading and writing. “I rite compushishens in

Miss Kin-nians class at the beekmin collidge center for retarted adults where I go to lern 3 times a week on my time off” (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:8)

Alice develops a close personal relationship with Charlie. She enjoys their relationship in the initial stages of Charlie's intellectual rising, but feels isolated when Charlie’s intelligence surpasses her own. Though they become estranged, she returns to take care of Charlie when his intelligence eventually declines.

Alice Kinnian is the one person with Charlie comes to experience a truly fulfilling personal relationship. Alice represents the human warmth and kindness that persist in the face of the intellectual and scientific focus of many of the other

Universitas Sumatera Utara characters. Alice teaches literacy skills to mentally retarded adults because she cares her students, she does not believe that their disabilities make them lesser human beings. She takes genuine satisfaction in helping people.

Alice Kinnian recommends Charlie for Nemur and Strauss’s experiment

Although she is not one of the scientists who perform the experiment on Charlie, she acts as an unofficial member of the team because of her concern for him. She is interested in intellectual pursuits but is ultimately more motivated by emotion.

He said Miss Kinnian tolld him I was her bestist pupil in the Beekman School for retarted adults and I tryed the hardist becaus I reely wantd to lern I wantid it more even then pepul who are smarter even then me (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:12)

Alice Kinnian recommends Charlie because she admires Charlie’s desire to learn. Charlie appreciates Alice’s concern for his well-being, she give the support in his earliest progress reports, even though she is not a member of the scientific team that is examining him. Alice Kinnian is the only per-son who appreciates Charlie's true human worth before the operation to help him achieve his goals.

Alice Kinnian is a patient women. with Charlie and helps him work through his emotional conflicts, even as she recognizes that she no longer can reach him intellectually and that his intellect has made it too difficult for her to be around him.

Alice Kinnian is always honest with Charlie and with herself. When she and

Charlie separate, it's because he fails to meet her emotional needs, and she no longer can meet his intellectual needs. Charlie must discover his emotions before they can be together.

Universitas Sumatera Utara Alice Kinnian a special kind of person to be a special education teacher. She has to be caring, patient, and understanding. People who take up this responsibility by helping these kind of people show that there are still good and selfless people out there in the world. She not only cares for Charlie and sees him as a person before the operation but continues on loving him even after he is way above her intellectual level. Through her caring and selflessness, Charlie is shown not only a new world of knowledge after the operation but also of emotion.

Alice Kinnian is taught Charlie in night school along with other mentally challenged adults before Charlie get operation. Alice begins to teach Charlie about grammar and punctuation.

Alice Kinnian give the biggest influence on what Charlie does and says. At this stage he is very dependent on her to learn after his operation. She also gives him words of encouragement and praise which makes Charlie attracted to her because he doesn't get that attention from anybody else.

Miss Kinnian says Im learning fast. She read some of my progress reports and she looked at me kind of funny. She says Im a fine person and Ill show them all. I asked her why. She said never mind but I shouldnt feel bad if I find out that everybody isnt nice like I think. (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:61)

Alice Kinnian is give a sign of warmth and comfort which attracts Charlie because all he has spent time at is the cold lab which is frustrating and confusing. He can go to Alice for a break and to talk out his problems.

Universitas Sumatera Utara I dialed three times, broke off in the middle each time, but on the fourth try, I managed to hold on until her voice. At first she didn't think she should see me, but I begged her to meet me at the cafeteria where we had dinner together. "I respect you you've always given me good advice (Keyes, Daniel, 1959:141)

The summarize of Alice Kinnian that she is Charlie’s teacher, she supports

Charlie to undergo an experimental medicine. Alice Kinnian is very patient with

Charlie. Alice is a special education teacher who taught Charlie in reading and writing class. Alice give a sign of warm and comfort for Charlie.

Universitas Sumatera Utara CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 CONCLUSION

After completing an analyzing of novel named “Flower for Algernon” it is proved that Charlie really happy although for six month with IQ 182 charlie able to work normally done by man with that high IQ. For example Charlie can use mixer, learning function of grammar. In the work environment, Charlie able to recognize the good or bad something in his life. It can prove that when Charlie caught his friend do cheating which is his friend manipulated the number of goods to buy not according to the amount of money in pay buyers. The during of Charlie in a state of high IQ,

Charlie can recognize a wrong done, while when his iq low, Charlie can’t recognize that wrong done.

Charlie happiness as a person with high IQ is share with Alice. Charlie try to say what his feeling with alice, but alice refused Charlie’s love. The refused of alice to Charlie. Only six month Charlie feel happiness, after that condition of Charlie more and more be bad and this condition finally make Charlie get death. Before

Charlie undergo the Experiment Medical, Charlie know that two saintist can not guarantee The Experimental Medical will success, The Experimental will not forever. Because Charlie don’t care about the risk will he get, Charlie just say yes to undergo the Experimental Medical. Charlie don’t care if he will dead after the

Experimental Medical. Charlie just thing how can be a clever person. According

Charlie in that six month is the short moment, but make Charlie really have a short

Universitas Sumatera Utara happy moment. Charlie proud to himself because he ever be clever although in short time.

5.2 SUGGESTIONS

“Flower for Algernon” is worthy reading. The presence of the main characteristic of two characters in this thesis denotes how the values of literature reflect human concerns. To end this writing, the writer would like to purpose some suggestion in regarding to an analysis of two character in “Flower for Algernon”. In reading a novel, readers should not only pick an explicit meaning but also implicitly.

Because some words, phrase, and sentences used by characters may have a deeper meaning than it looks like.

The usefulness of reading the novel is meant to lead us knowing who we are actually, such as the main characters Charlie Gordon is mentally retarded man with

IQ 68 who try change God’s creation through undergo an experimental surgery to improve his intelligent. As we know that avoid or hate God’s creation is not good moral. This attitude means believe a man can change God’s creation with perfectly without risks. We should say thanks to our God for what God has given to us. In our life also can find something like that. Finally, the writer would like to recommend this novel must be more appreciative if an author could create a rare story with moral values. So Do not try to fight nature of God. We can pick an wisdom after read that.

Universitas Sumatera Utara REFERENCES

Best, John W, Drs. Sanapiah Faisal, Drs, Mulyadi Guntur Waseso. 1982. Buku

Terjemahan: Metodologi Penelitian & Pendidikan. Surabaya: Usaha

Nasional.

Crowther, Jonathan. 1995. Oxford: Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Fifth Edition.

New York: Oxford University Press.

D. Bonn, Julien. 2010. A Comprehensive Dictionary of Literature. India: Abhishek

Publications

Di Yanni, Robert. 1990. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry and Essay. New York:

Me Graw-Hill Pub. Com.

Peck, J. 1983. How to study a novel. London: Macmillan Education LTD.

Peck J, Coyte Martin. 1984. Literary Terms and critism. London: Macmillan

Education LTD.

Robert, Edgar V and Henry E. Jacobs. 1993. Literature: An Introduction to Reading

and Writing. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Taylor, Ricard. 1981. Understanding the Elements of Literature. New York:

Macmillan Pres, Ltd.

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. 1977. Teori Kesusastraan. London: Harcout Brace

Javanovich Publisher, San Diego, New York.

Universitas Sumatera Utara APPENDICES

Author’s Biography and Works

Daniel Keyes was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 9, 1927. He was educated at Brooklyn College, where he received an A.B. degree in 1950. After graduation, Keyes worked brieily as an associate editor for the magazine Marvel

Science Fiction while pursuing his own writing career; he later taught high school

English in Brooklyn. In 1952, he married Aurea Georgina Vazquez, with whom he had three children. Keyes returned to Brooklyn College, received an A.M. degree in

1961, and went on to teach English on the university level, first at Wayne State

University in Detroit. Michigan, and then at Ohio University, where in the 1970s he became Professor of English and director of the university's creative writing center.

Daniel Keyes was still teaching high school English when he first published the work that would make his reputation. The original short story version of "Flowers for Algernon" appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1959.

After the story won the Hugo Award for best science fiction story of the year and was adapted as a television drama, Keyes expanded the story into a novel, published in 1966. The novel won the Nebula Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America

(tying with Samuel R. Delany's Babel-17) and was filmed in 1968 as Charlie. The film was a notable success, earning Cliff Robertson an Academy Award as Best

Actor for his portrayal of Charlie Gordon.

Although none of Keyes' other work has achieved the popular and critical success of Flowers for Algernon, he has continued to write while pursuing a full-time

Universitas Sumatera Utara career in English academics. He published two other novels, The Touch (1968) and The Fifth Sally (1980), and the nonfiction works The Minds of Billy

Milligan (1981) and Unveiling Claudia: A True Story of a Serial Murder (1986).

Both The Minds of Billy Milligan and The Fifth Sally share with Flowers for

Algernon a concern with extraordinary psychological states, as both books examine the phenomenon of multiple personalities. Indeed, Keyes was able to write his book on Billy Milligan, the first person in the United States ever acquitted of a major felony on the grounds of multiple personalities, only after several of Milligan's selves read Flowers for Algernon and agreed to work with the author.

Now retired from Ohio University and living in Boca Raton, Florida, Keyes has recently completed a new novel and seen his work attain tremendous popularity in Japan. Daniel Keyes Collected Stories (1993) and The Daniel Keyes

Reader (1994), and the sequel to The Minds of Billy Milligan, The Milligun

Wars (1993), have all been published in Japan, with The Milligan Wars appearing in a U.S. edition in 1996.

Keyes first conceived Flowers for Algernon as a short story in 1959, for which he won the 1960 Hugo Award for Best Novelette of the Year from the World

Science Fiction Society. In a 1997 interview with Locus Magazine, Keyes recalled clashing with his editors over the story's tragic ending:

"[An important editor named] Horace came in from the other room and said,

'Dan, this is a good story, but I'm gonna tell you how to make it a great story: Charlie does not lose his intelligence; he remains a super-genius, and he and Alice fall in love, they get married, and live happily ever after.'..."

Universitas Sumatera Utara Going against his editor's advice proved rewarding, for the story of Charlie's mental rise and fall pulled on the public's heartstrings and achieved enduring success.

The story came to the small screen in a 1966 televised play, "The Two Worlds of

Charlie Gordon," was expanded into a full-length novel in 1966, and inspired the1968 film, "Charly," for which Cliff Robertson snagged an Oscar for best-actor.

Of his own story, Keyes wrote in the Library Journal:

"Flowers for Algernon is the story of a man's inner journey from a world of retardation to a world of high intelligence. Charlie Gordon lives through comic, sad, and ironic experiences as he emerges from mental darkness, through the various stages of perceiving and understanding levels of knowledge, into the light of complex awareness of the world, of people, and of himself." (Small, 251)

As scholar Robert Scholes notes, Flowers for Algernon transcends the genre of science fiction through its emotional mass appeal. "This tale is beautifully problematic," he says. "It conveys to us the deprivation involved in mental retardation as no amount of reports or exhortations could possibly do it." (57)

Echoing Scholes' praise, critic Robert Small, Jr. commends the novel's journalistic style, saying "...the story as told through Charlie's own journal, effectively carries out one of the main qualities that proponents of literature claim for it, immediacy of experience, that is, empathetic power."

Universitas Sumatera Utara Summary of Flower for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon is a character study of one man, Charlie Gordon.

Charlie is a 32-year-old developmentally disabled man who has the opportunity to undergo a surgical procedure that will dramatically increase his mental capabilities.

This procedure had already been performed on a laboratory mouse, Algernon, with remarkable results. Charlie will be the first human subject.

In a series of progress reports, Charlie documents everything that happens to him. As Charlie's intelligence increases to a genius level, the reader not only reads about the changes from Charlie's viewpoint, but also sees the change evidenced in

Charlie's writing ability. This jump in intelligence is not necessarily a good thing, however. Charlie is now able to recall past events that shaped his life and analyze past friendships for what they were, or weren't. He also has difficulty making new friendships and establishing new relationships due to a lack of social intelligence that the surgery could neither correct nor anticipate. And, finally, because of his increased intelligence, Charlie is able to discover the experiment's "fatal flaw" and is reduced to watching the end for both Algernon and himself, hoping to salvage something for the future from his brief bout with genius.

Charlie Gordon is about to embark on an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence - a procedure that has been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon. As the

Universitas Sumatera Utara treatment takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his . The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until suddenly Algernon deteriorates and the same happen to Charlie.