How does the character of Charlie develop in 'Flowers for Algernon' (short story or novel)?

At first, Charlie is a bit of an outcast because of his low intelligence. He has a strong desire to learn and be 'normal'. When the operation makes him smart, he develops quickly. He reads books, writes complex papers, and has deep philosophical thoughts. But this new intelligence also makes him lonely as he realizes how different he is from others. As his intelligence fades, he still retains some of the knowledge and the new - found understanding of human nature that he gained during his intelligent phase.

In 'Flowers for Algernon Story', Charlie's character development is quite a journey. Initially, Charlie is a person with limited mental capabilities. He is kind - hearted but often the butt of jokes. As the experiment to increase his intelligence progresses, he becomes highly intelligent. He starts to question things, realizes how people have treated him unfairly before. However, as his intelligence begins to decline again, he retains some of the new - found wisdom. He has learned about love, friendship, and the complexity of human nature during his time of high intelligence, which shapes his character in a more complex and empathetic way even as he returns to his former state of lower intelligence.

It's a novel. 'Flowers for Algernon' is a full-length fictional work rather than a short story.

Yes, it is. Flowers for Algernon is classified as a short story.

Flowers might also represent Charlie's innocence. Before the experiment, he was simple - minded like a flower that just exists without much complication. But as his intelligence grows, he loses that innocent simplicity, and the contrast is like the change from a budding flower to a more complex state.

In the 'Flowers for Algernon' short story, one activity is Charlie's participation in the intelligence - enhancing experiment. He takes tests regularly as part of the experiment, which is a crucial activity that drives the plot forward.

The story 'Flowers of Algernon' uses Charlie's journey as a means to comment on society. It shows how society often marginalizes those with intellectual disabilities. Charlie, before his intelligence increase, is seen as less than others. But as he becomes smarter, he also faces new problems like isolation because he no longer fits into the simple world he once knew. The story makes the reader reflect on how we define and treat intelligence in our own society.

In the short story, the limited length forces a more direct storytelling. It quickly shows Charlie's initial state, his operation, and the aftermath. In the novel, the longer length allows for a more meandering and detailed account. For example, we get to know Charlie's relationships with different people in more depth.

Flowers in 'Flowers for Algernon' are also a symbol of the passage of time. As time passes in the story, Charlie's situation changes drastically. Flowers, which change over time, from budding to full bloom to decay, are a perfect representation of this. The different stages of a flower can be related to different phases of Charlie's life. For instance, the budding flower could represent his initial state of innocence and low intelligence, the full bloom could be his period of high intelligence, and the decay could be his decline back to his original state.

The length of 'Flowers for Algernon' in terms of word count is not fixed. However, on average, it's thought to be around 45,000 words. This can change based on different publishing versions and how words are counted.