Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Type on a computer dDoctor Nemur in the short story “Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes relates very much to the scientists of today. In an article written in the New York Times, by a Michigan Professor found that students were sabotaging other students scientific experiments for their own personal gain. In the article it expressed an incident where a student, Heather Ames, went to the lab and discovered her work to be drowned in alcohol killing the experimental cancer cells. The lab investigated the incident and even got the police involved. After a couple months the authorities finally named a culprit Vipul Bhrigu. I think this is an example of something the “acclaimed” Dr. Nemur would do. He and other scientists are focused only on personal gain, barely paying any attention or completely ignoring the peripherals. Nemur was so focused on his personal gain that he ended up driving a retarded man out of the life he knew into isolation and fear of death. He didn’t see the experiment through only considering it medically safe after witnessing the climax of Algernon. Any experienced scientist would see the life of the control to consider it safe, but not Dr. Nemur. Overall, both sets of scientists were wrong and selfish, enough so that some of them broke the law. Flowers for Algernon has the theme that the aims of science and medical discovery can be misguided. The ambitions of the doctors in this short story wanted the recognition and fame that world renowned researchers have. They had there own ambitions, but in the end it was to get the Psychology seat at Princeton, a very sought after position that only the top doctor receives. They were so blinded by this, they didn’t even foresee the entire life of the mouse.If they had lived though they mouse’s life and saw the effects of what happened they would have not allowed Charlie to go through with this experiment. They could have saved the life of an innocent man who only wanted to be smart.

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