The distribution of power in Flowers for Algernon, by David Keyes, alters dramatically throughout the book. At the beginning, Charlie is a mentally challenged thirty-year-old man, who is essentially at the bottom of the power chain. He works for a bakery, in which workers like Gimpy and Frank are less in power to Mr. Donner, the owner. All of the bakery workers are below the scientists at Beekman College in terms of dominance; and Mrs. Kinnian can be taken as equal or above the bakery employees. More specifically, Professor Nemur and Professor Strauss compose more power than Burt; while Professor Nemur and Strauss dispute their equality or inequality of authority. However, after Charlie receives his operation, he surpasses every notch in the power chain due to his newfound intelligence until he far exceed the other characters in regards to power.
The reader learns, however, that many of the scientists in the book strive for power, especially Professor Nemur. This is revealed as Charlie begins to develop an awareness to the actual personalities and goals of the scientists he previously revered as demigods, and when he attends the conference. While Burt defends Professor Nemur’s motives and disposition, blaming his wife for enacting pressure unto Nemur, Charlie is offended when the scientists claim to have created him; that he was essentially, not a full human being before their procedure, and remains lower on the chain of power than them. Charlie concludes that the experts believe he is no more than an exhibit for Nemur’s presentation (since he is lumped together with Algernon when referred to at the conference), and displays his power over them when he escapes with Algernon and begins publishing scientific papers, composing concertos, and working alongside Professor Nemur and Strauss to improve their surgery method.
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