of Charlie's research and hope for a cure for Algernon's regression, Charlie realizes that there is none. In "Flowers for Algernon," by Daniel Keyes, Charlie's intelligence reaches a level that exponentially surpasses his doctors, so when Algernon, the mouse, begins to show signs of deterioration, Charlie is determined to find an answer. His answer, unfortunately, is that,

"Artificially increased intelligence deteriorates at a rate directly proportional to the quantity of the increase." (Keyes 33)

This tells Charlie that his own deterioration will happen very quickly. Even though he knows this, Charlie is happy that he has been able to add knowledge about the brain to that of his predecessors.

The first symptoms Charlie begins to notice in himself are "signs of instability and forgetfulness." Soon after that, he becomes absent minded as well.

Following Charlie's scientific study, the regression moves rather rapidly. Charlie begins to show signs of forgetfulness, including the fact that it takes him several days to mention Algernon's death, even though this is a significant event. He also begins to lose the knowledge he has gained; he can no longer speak multiple languages, and even his own writing is an enigma. His forgetfulness extends beyond his original intelligence, as he forgets where he lives at one point, and also tries to return to the adult class where he worked with Miss Kinnian.

Physically, Charlie mentions that he has become clumsy and is tripping and falling more often. He also has a regression in motor skills, forcing him to return to writing his diary entries because he can no longer type efficiently. Charlie experiences bouts of amnesia and loses days or a week at a time that he cannot recall. He also becomes more sluggish and lazy; the effort it takes for Charlie to try and utilize a dictionary to retain some of his literacy skills quickly becomes too much for him.

Charlie experiences emotional changes during this time as well. Initially, Charlie becomes angry and depressed after realizing his fate. He demonstrates these feelings by throwing his books around, breaking records, and refusing to see anybody. As the regression continues, Charlie becomes nostalgic, even recalling and sharing memories about his parents. He also becomes overly emotional when he returns to work at the factory, when he almost cries after Joe and Frank stand up for him.

Perhaps the clearest sign of regression is Charlie's acceptance of his fate at the conclusion of Flowers for Algernon. He reflects on his experience and determines that he is still happy to have been a part of it all; this mentality closely parallels Charlie's demeanor to the beginning of the novel, demonstrating that he is now back on the level where he began.

Without knowing which eight signs you have, I'll try listing some, and hope I hit the ones you have not yet found.

Although not directly a sign of Charlie's regression, the deterioration of Algernon's abilities, his death, and the way the brain looks are a reflection of Charlie's own current and coming decline. Charlie starts having problems with higher scientific thought, reading the classics he had recently loved,and finding the right words for things he wants to say. He turns his music up in attempt to not think about what is happening to his abilities, and smashes the records he loved, when his intelligence was high. He notices that he is having more difficulty with physical tasks, such as typing, and with intellectual tasks like solving mazes, and seeing anything complex in Rorschach tests. Eventually, he gets lost trying to find his way home. He goes back to the bakery and has an accident when one of his co-workers won't let him go to the bathroom. He forgets the relationship he had with Alice, and shows back up at her class.