At several points in the book, Keyes references the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. In the book of Genesis, we’re told that Adam and Eve gave up a life of eternal happiness in the Garden of Eden when they chose to eat from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Although they gained intelligence and knowledge from the tree, their lives also became sadder and more painful because they were expelled from Eden for their disobedience. It’s clear enough that (in the novel) the Adam and Eve story is meant to symbolize Charlie Gordon’s own brain surgery. Just like Adam and Eve, Charlie gains enormous knowledge when his IQ triples. And yet his new intelligence doesn’t bring him happiness—on the contrary, it makes him realize that he was miserable all along, and just didn’t know it. There appears to be a tradeoff between happiness and intellect in Flowers for Algernon, and the Adam and Eve story is the best symbol of this.
Adam and Eve Quotes in Flowers for Algernon
She stared down at the bride and groom on the wedding cake she was decorating and I could see her lips barely move as she whispered: "It was evil when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. It was evil when they saw they was naked, and learned about lust and shame. And they was driven out of Paradise and the gates was closed to them. If not for that none of us would have to grow old and be sick and die."
There was nothing more to say, to her or to the rest of them. None of them would look into my eyes. I can still feel the hostility. Before, they had laughed at me, despising me for my ignorance and dullness; now, they hated me for my knowledge and understanding. Why? What in God's name did they want of me?
Adam and Eve Symbol Timeline in Flowers for Algernon
