Charlie may be a mere mortal in Flowers for Algernon, but he's got a unique approach to thinking about life and death. He's basically a different person after he undergoes surgery, leaving the old Charlie hanging out in limbo-land. Plus, Fanny tells him he's messing with God's will by becoming a superhuman. So it makes sense that he shrugs off the idea of death while he's busy reading all the books in the library, but once Algernon's health starts failing, Charlie begins to realize that this nice little situation he's got going isn't likely to last forever. Enter existential crisis about the meaning of life and the inevitability of death.
Questions About Death and Mortality
- When does Charlie first start to worry about death?
- How does Algernon's death impact Charlie? What is his initial reaction to Algernon's death?
- Why is it so important to Charlie for someone to put flowers on Algernon's grave?
Chew on This
Charlie never feels entirely invincible from death, but he goes to great lengths to pretend he is.
Algernon's death resonates more powerfully with Charlie than any human death would.