Official Start Time: 11:00 p.m.
Date: 10/22/08
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.
I decided that it'd be fun to share another one of my essays; this one reflecting the theme in Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. The book is great and really a piece that makes you think how we view not only the mentally retarded but our everyday man. I had to write in CAPT style which has to be one of the most dissatisfying ways of writing. The form of writing I learned in my AP World History course gives a great base for really intense and profound, intelligent writing. So please forgive me for the odd sentences.
Intelligence is the ability to comprehend, learn, and show the skills that one has learned. Additionally, intelligence is the one thing man has always desired because of pride, acceptance, and even fear that without it he would seem inferior. However, though intelligence is what makes us human, its level is not what makes us a person with dreams and values. Whether it is a mental retard or a rogue scholar, the level of intelligence all comes from an origin that was eager to learn and developed to fight for the righteous cause.
All creatures whether human or animal start life with the eager ambition to learn and better themselves no matter what. Neither creature has a step ahead nor do all follow the same path to their goal. As a child we are eager to learn, but also eager to please. A child is self-conscious of the acknowledgement of their progress, but also to what defines them as the person they are. In this quote Dr. Strauss tells Charlie that, “Miss Kinnian tolld him I was here bestist pupil in the Beekman School for retarted adults and I tryed the hardist because I really I wantd to lern I wantid it more even then the pepul who are smarter even then me,” (Keyes, pg3). This quote simply proves that no matter what level of intelligence you are certain aspects still define you for who you are and what drives you to be better.
As man develops he grows a purpose to his life. This purpose could have grown from something that affected that persons life to what that person realized was their calling. Furthermore, with intelligence man is equipped with the tools necessary to set those goals and the reason to complete them. At one point half through the experiment Charlie says, “I’ve got to use my knowledge and skills to work in the field of increasing human intelligence. Who is better equipped? Who has lived in both worlds?” (Keyes, pg139). With this quote it shows that intelligence sets goals and reasons, and that every sort of creature sets a goal for a certain reason. Whether Algernon to do the maze in order to eat, or Charlie to do his research in an attempt to save himself. All creatures have a reason to their goals.
As man fights the continuous battle to achieve his goals, he grows attached and devoted to the one thing that can change his life. For Charlie it was his intelligence and as he said toward the end of his experiment, “I’m not going to give up my intelligence without a struggle,” (Keyes, pg175) shows the pursuit and work Charlie has put to achieve his goals, and how he will never stop to protect the thing he treasured most. This common factor is what makes us a human, but also a person with dreams and values.
In conclusion, intelligence is what makes us human, but it is not what makes us a person with dreams and values. What makes man a person is the drive to achieve intelligence and is best displayed in this quote, “Anyways thats why Im gone keep trying to get smart so I can have that feeling agen. Its good to know things and be smart and I wish I new evrything in the whole world,” (Keyes, pg216). Intelligence is only a number and it is not factor into what makes us into the person we are.
Sincerely, Hector Guzman
Date: 10/22/08
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.
I decided that it'd be fun to share another one of my essays; this one reflecting the theme in Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. The book is great and really a piece that makes you think how we view not only the mentally retarded but our everyday man. I had to write in CAPT style which has to be one of the most dissatisfying ways of writing. The form of writing I learned in my AP World History course gives a great base for really intense and profound, intelligent writing. So please forgive me for the odd sentences.
Intelligence is the ability to comprehend, learn, and show the skills that one has learned. Additionally, intelligence is the one thing man has always desired because of pride, acceptance, and even fear that without it he would seem inferior. However, though intelligence is what makes us human, its level is not what makes us a person with dreams and values. Whether it is a mental retard or a rogue scholar, the level of intelligence all comes from an origin that was eager to learn and developed to fight for the righteous cause.
All creatures whether human or animal start life with the eager ambition to learn and better themselves no matter what. Neither creature has a step ahead nor do all follow the same path to their goal. As a child we are eager to learn, but also eager to please. A child is self-conscious of the acknowledgement of their progress, but also to what defines them as the person they are. In this quote Dr. Strauss tells Charlie that, “Miss Kinnian tolld him I was here bestist pupil in the Beekman School for retarted adults and I tryed the hardist because I really I wantd to lern I wantid it more even then the pepul who are smarter even then me,” (Keyes, pg3). This quote simply proves that no matter what level of intelligence you are certain aspects still define you for who you are and what drives you to be better.
As man develops he grows a purpose to his life. This purpose could have grown from something that affected that persons life to what that person realized was their calling. Furthermore, with intelligence man is equipped with the tools necessary to set those goals and the reason to complete them. At one point half through the experiment Charlie says, “I’ve got to use my knowledge and skills to work in the field of increasing human intelligence. Who is better equipped? Who has lived in both worlds?” (Keyes, pg139). With this quote it shows that intelligence sets goals and reasons, and that every sort of creature sets a goal for a certain reason. Whether Algernon to do the maze in order to eat, or Charlie to do his research in an attempt to save himself. All creatures have a reason to their goals.
As man fights the continuous battle to achieve his goals, he grows attached and devoted to the one thing that can change his life. For Charlie it was his intelligence and as he said toward the end of his experiment, “I’m not going to give up my intelligence without a struggle,” (Keyes, pg175) shows the pursuit and work Charlie has put to achieve his goals, and how he will never stop to protect the thing he treasured most. This common factor is what makes us a human, but also a person with dreams and values.
In conclusion, intelligence is what makes us human, but it is not what makes us a person with dreams and values. What makes man a person is the drive to achieve intelligence and is best displayed in this quote, “Anyways thats why Im gone keep trying to get smart so I can have that feeling agen. Its good to know things and be smart and I wish I new evrything in the whole world,” (Keyes, pg216). Intelligence is only a number and it is not factor into what makes us into the person we are.
Sincerely, Hector Guzman
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