Flowers for Algernon features mentally impaired Charlie Gordon who is to keep a progress report journal so that neurosurgeons Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss could keep track of his intelligence growth. Charlie was born with an under-average IQ of 68 and had a weak creative intelligence. However, he was always motivated to be smart because he feels he will be just like everyone else if he keeps trying. The doctors soon gave him an operation that was to triple his IQ to 204 (which would be above genius). He soon became friends with a white mouse named Algernon who also went through the same operation as Charlie to become smart. Both Charlie and Algernon completed mazes every day to test their intelligence. Charlie was originally made fun of at work for being "mentally retarded" but he was soon fired because he became a genius within a week. Everyone thought he was strange and he became more lonely. Algernon sadly reached the side effects of the operation and lost its life. Charlie was soon losing his intelligence rapidly and his ability to read and write fluently. When Algernon died, Charlie put flowers on its grave for the loss of his best friend. Charlie decided to start a new life in New York where no one would know he was a genius once. Honestly, this book was very touching and portrayed that it is not a person's fault they are not perceived to be smart. We also learn that an IQ cannot measure the full capability of a person's mind.