Uncovering Hidden Messages in Flowers for Algernon

Symbols in Literature

• Symbols in literature provide insight into the story's meaning and connect to the real world.
• Symbols can be found in characters, setting, colors, and objects.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

• Good luck charms (rabbit's foot, penny, and horseshoe) symbolize innocence for Charlie.
• As Charlie becomes intelligent, he loses his innocence and sees these items as illogical and unnecessary.
• When his intelligence declines, he searches for these objects again.

The Maze & The Window

• The maze represents the trial and error of human experience.
• The maze initially traps Charlie, representing failure, but he eventually masters it.
• The window symbolizes Charlie's disability and separation from society.
• When Charlie becomes intelligent, the window represents his emotional disconnect and past emotional trauma.

Characters as Symbols

• Algernon, the lab mouse, symbolizes Charlie's identity and struggles, as well as fate, reality, and death.
• Charlie represents change, enlightenment, and the human experience.
• Old Charlie represents the mentally handicapped community and innocence.
• Fay represents freedom and rebellion, symbolizing lust and infatuation.
• Alice represents true love, unconditional and meaningful.

The Story as a Whole

• The story symbolizes the life cycle, from childhood to old age.
• Charlie's journey mirrors the human experience, from dependence to independence and eventually, acceptance of mortality.
• The story is not just about a disabled man, but about the journey we all take in our lifetimes.

Delve into the world of literary analysis and uncover the symbolic meanings in Daniel Keyes' novel, Flowers for Algernon. Explore the hidden messages and connections to the real world.