true to my resolution, i managed to finish the book by today. i didn’t run, though. ought to do something about this, hmmm.
i can’t help but compare “flowers for algernon” with “to kill a mockingbird”. like TKAM, “flowers” also touched on the issue of class division in society, albeit briefly. as i quote charlie, how strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes – how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence. (or different skin colour in the case of TKAM. or something else in the case of something else.)
for some reason this book seems extremely poignant to me. charlie is a mentally handicapped 30-something janitor who volunteered to undergo a brain operation that made him a genius. sounds good? not when emotional despair and scepticism come along with the intelligence increase.
talk about charlie. he had a somewhat low IQ before his operation. the people whom he thought were his good friends only hang around with him because they had a penchant for making fun of him. but strangely, he was happy man. he thought that when his so-called buddies were laughing at him, it’s because they liked him so much. he had a direction in life – to become the best janitor around. he yearned to be able to read and write; to be smart, just like everybody else. but this yearning is as much as we long for a million bucks to land on our doorstep – cool to have, but if not, no big deal. it’s impossible anyway.
all these happiness vanished soon after his operation. he realised what his “friends” true intentions were; he questioned authority; he became disillusioned with the motives of everyone, esp. those whom he had held in such high regard not so long ago. he wanted to be more than just a janitor, and this helped him discover a startling truth about the experiment which led to his inevitable tragic end.
i was reminded of the conversation i have with jeff during our *night outfield*. no, we didn’t talk about intelligence or social classes and the like, but i remembered telling him that the more we are aware of the things that are happening around us, the more cynical we become.
hmm… for some reason i really enjoy the book a lot. thanks shiqing!
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anuar is taking over the role of CSM starting tomorrow. i’m still clinging onto the minute hope that he is someone who changes with the environment. -_-
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the tinnitus i’ve been experiencing in my left ear is getting more and more frequent now, so much that i’m getting a bit worried. must have been listening to mp3 player too loud. either that or club too much… LOL!
