Flowers for Algernon Group
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eNotes Editor
Posted by danylyshen on Tuesday May 26, 2009 at 7:37 PMBefore the operation, Charlie is blissfully ignorant of the intricate power relations between people. He saw the people at the bakery as friends, for example, even though they probably made fun of him and were often insincere with him. After the operation, Charlie sees the flaws in the doctors and sees them as they really are: humans with flaws and weaknesses like the rest. He always thought that his life would improve so much more if he were only smarter and intelligent like the doctors. What Charlie really gained after the operation was a whole other set of worries and stresses and problems because he is aware of so much more.
Eventually Charlie becomes smarter than Professor Nemur. When this happens, the "....hostility culminates in a shouting match between the two, during which Charlie accuses Nemur of treating him as less than a human being and Nemur accuses Charlie of having become "arrogant, self-centered," and "antisocial." Please see the Enotes available. They're full of great information.

