Intelligent people often face many challenges in life. This is certainly true in Daniel Keyes' novel, Flowers for Algernon, where the main character, Charlie, faces many challenges once he becomes intelligent. Charlie's transformation into an intelligent person causes him to face many different social problems and go through a wave of different emotions at the same time. Therefore, Charlie's life is more difficult now that he is intelligent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First of all, Charlie faces many challenges with his emotions once he becomes intelligent. Charlie learns that the bakers have been mistreating him all along and are not his friends. When Charlie gains his intelligence, he learns the shameful things the bakers said, like "Now I know what they mean when they say 'make a Charlie Gordon,' I'm ashamed" (Keyes 42). Charlie realized that the Bakers were making fun of him behind his back, even though he considered them his friends and thought they considered him his equal. The only reason Charlie wanted to become smart was for his mother's love and acceptance, because ever since he was a child, all she wanted was for him to be smart. The one thought that constantly ran through Charlie's mind was that he "never stopped wanting to be...the smart guy...so she'd like me." Since he wasn't smart growing up, he thought the only way his mother could love him and be happy was if he was smart. At Professor Nemar's cocktail party, Charlie Gordan admits that his life was better before the operation because back then he had friends, but now his intelligence has caused him to isolate himself from everyone. At the end, Charlie also adds that "intelligence...that has not been tempered by human affection is worthless." He believed that in addition to intelligence, he would also receive love, friends and acceptance. However, the opposite happened, which made him realize that without love, intelligence is worthless. Therefore, Charlie realizes that being smart doesn't give you a better life. Additionally, Charlie encounters several social problems due to his intelligence. He was repeatedly mistreated by others because he was not intelligent. While talking with Professor Nemur, Charlie speaks up and tells Nemur that he "was a person before the operation." In case you forgot. He felt like he was being treated more like an object than a human being and that was mainly because the professor was incapable of seeing a person with a low IQ as a human being. Charlie Gordan begins to transform into a new person towards the end of the story when he loses his intelligence, and this is shown when Alice comes to visit him but he doesn't let her in. "I wouldn't let her in because I didn't." I don't want her to make fun of me. Charlie said because Alice Kinnian was the only woman he ever loved and Charlie didn't want her to stop loving him because he was losing his intelligence. Charlie Gordan was the person who always made fun of himself for feeling happy, but due to his current mental state, he has become the opposite, which creates distance between him and the woman he loves. At the end, Charlie Gordan reflects on the experience he gained while living his life as an intellectual. “Now I know I had a family and I was a person like everyone else.” » Charlie says as he begins.