Challenge Corner discussion

The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?

Progress Report 9
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I'm not really sure about the way they are portraying Charlie's intellectual progress here. Is it supposed to be that he never got aroused before? Or just he didn't understand what was happening and didn't remember it? I think the second makes more sense, because I wouldn't think having a low IQ would stop you from getting aroused.

It is really sad to see him starting to understand that people have been making fun of him all his life. I'm guessing he will need an entirely new set of friends who didn't know him before.
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Progress Report 11
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I'm kind of surprised Charlie still feels in love with Alice. He has gotten so arrogant lately. Why couldn't he talk to that econ professor about interest rates? He might have learned something interesting. Instead he had to ask something the professor didn't know anything about and then look down on him for not having an opinion. After that, I was expecting him to look down on Alice the same way. Maybe that is still to come.
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Progress Report 14
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The story just got really weird and creepy, with the old Charlie always watching. Maybe that is why he finds it easier to have sex with Fay than Alice - because the old Charlie also knew Alice? Either way, it's very strange.
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Finished!
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I would have guessed the ending would be sad, to watch him going back to being unintelligent again. But the thing is I just never liked Charlie very much this whole book, so I didn't really care what happened to him.
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25% (view spoiler)[
I am glad that Charlie's intelligence has been increasing and his memory is getting better, but I feel so sad about the bad events he is recalling. Also he is realizing that the people he thought were his friends were actually being mean to him the entire time, and he just didn't understand. Hopefully, he will actually meet people and become friends with them and leave behind those who were cruel to him. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[
I feel bad for Charlie, but at the same time he isn't helping himself. He is very emotionally immature and naïve and is alienating himself with his intelligence. I wish he wasn't being so condescending.

Also, his mother was awful to him when he was a child. At least he had his father to protect him somewhat. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[
It must be frightening for Charlie to know that his intelligence could decline any time. Nothing is guaranteed. He is a whole different person now with a different life with friends and relationships. All of that could disappear at any time. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[
Although Charlie definitely isn't my favorite protagonist, the story itself held some important messages. It also had such a sad ending. It was so depressing having to read about Charlie's decline back into his former self. (hide spoiler)]