Characters
CharacterCharlie
Alice Nemur Algernon Rose Donner Frank, Joe, and Gimpy Fay Matt Norma Strauss Burt Uncle Herman |
DescriptionMain Character
Charlie's teacher/ love One doctor working on Charlie Charlie's pet/ test mouse Charlie's mom Charlie's boss Bullies/ Co-workers Charlie's neighbor/ sexual relationship Charlie's father Charlie's sister Other doctor working on Charlie Graduate student helping with Charlie's surgery Took care of Charlie |
Analysis
Charlie- Dynamic- Before Surgery: "I'm skared…."(11).
After Surgery: "I find no pleasure in discussing ideas any more on such elementary level."
Round- "I'm like a man who's been half-asleep all his life, trying to find out what he was like before he woke up" (82).
Alice- Dynamic- “We’d better just say goodnight this way, Charlie. We can’t let this get personal. Not yet” (82)
Round- “I was furious at her, myself and the world.” (82)
Nemur- Dynamic- “We who have worked on this project at Beekman University have the satisfaction of knowing we have taken one of nature's mistakes and by our new techniques created a superior human being.” (161)
Round- "'The more intelligent you become the more problems you'll have, Charlie.'"(47)
After Surgery: "I find no pleasure in discussing ideas any more on such elementary level."
Round- "I'm like a man who's been half-asleep all his life, trying to find out what he was like before he woke up" (82).
Alice- Dynamic- “We’d better just say goodnight this way, Charlie. We can’t let this get personal. Not yet” (82)
Round- “I was furious at her, myself and the world.” (82)
Nemur- Dynamic- “We who have worked on this project at Beekman University have the satisfaction of knowing we have taken one of nature's mistakes and by our new techniques created a superior human being.” (161)
Round- "'The more intelligent you become the more problems you'll have, Charlie.'"(47)
Internal/External Conflict
- Charlie:
- Internal- First, he has a below average intelligence which causes him to want to be become smarter, but when he does become smarter, he loses all of his friends and learns that eventually, his intelligence will be restored back to his previous intelligence level. This shows Charlie is still learning and is having some struggle with coming to terms with his intelligence.
- External- His main external conflict is Charlie Gordon vs. society. This is his main external conflict because at first he is excluding from being “normal” and is excited about the operation that he will finally have that chance. When he does become intelligent he is again excluded from being “normal” because he is too smart.
- Alice:
- Internal- Alice’s internal conflict is mainly the love interest between her and Charlie. This is a conflict because Charlie is one of Alice’s former students and also Charlie has problems with sexual interest and “love”.
- External- Her external conflict is also their love interest but it is the fact that Charlie does not know personal boundaries and his emotional maturation is not “up to speed” with his mental development and when he tries to move too fast it strains their relationship.
- Dr. Strauss:
- External- Strauss realizes that once Charlie becomes extremely intelligent, he wants to work to make sure that the process doesn’t reverse itself. Straus and Nemur are unable to do this, which causes tension between Charlie and them.