Charlie Gordon as a posthuman character in Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon

Abstract

This research explores the posthumanist viewpoint in Flowers for Algernon by
Daniel keyes through examining the moral and social ramifications of Charlie
Gordon's journey from amentally handicapped man to a superman and back again.
Drawing on the posthuman theory, this paper investigates how Keyes' depiction
of Charlie Gordon's metamorphosis challenges conventional ideas concerning
what it means to be a human. It further tackles the assumption that Charlie's
growth from an inferior human to a superior one demonstrates how humans are
neither permanent nor static. This study contends that the author offers a
posthumanist approach that challenges the inherent stability of human nature and
creates a space for transhumanism and genetic experimentation. Keyes' Flowers
for Algernon novel is regarded as a notable work for advancing profound insights
into the complexities of ethical and human values and their degradation, as well
as a vividly detailed understanding of the intricate tension between emotion and
intellect with the interference of science which allows for an expanded awareness
of the essence of what constitutes a human being.