Defining humanity would require volumes. A good portion of the description of humanity is accomplished through the writings of History and Literature. These two subjects offer a great explanation for the depths and questions that we tend to ask about ourselves, especially concerning the make up of man, which consists of; attitude, personality and biological make up. These two specific books in Literature offer views into those questions and help lead the reader to a deeper understanding of the inner workings of man. Although written one hundred twenty eight years apart both Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, display the dichotomy of human morality. These books provoke our thoughts and make us question how far science should explore in the field of human experimentation.
In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon, the main character who is mentally impaired struggles with how to acquire intelligence, social acceptance and love. He wanted an identity and was willing to sell himself to science in order to gain the things he felt he lacked. As the story progresses Professor Nemur, the scientist conducting the experiment, encourages Charlie that he is doing the right thing because it will help better mankind and quite possibly make him famous. Charlie replies "I don't care so much about being famous. I just want to be smart like the other people so I can have lots of friends who like me."- Page 97. The monster in Frankenstein observes a family living in a cottage and how they interact with each other. This caused him to seek human contact in order to change the situation he was in. The monster states his needs by saying, "The more I saw of them, the greater became my desire to claim their protection and kindness; my heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures."- Page 126
In both books, the problem of intellectual validity becomes a topic of contention. Both characters were searching for meaning through the power of the intellect. Philosophically, we state that, what makes us human is intelligence. While this view may be socially accepted it is not entirely correct. Take someone who is mentally disabled for example, they may not have the same mental capacity as the average person but that does not make them any less human. We value intelligence because we know it can progress human kind in the fields of science, economy and industry. We tend to forget that there are many forms of intelligence that may not necessarily be able to be measured. For instance, the sense of humor of one individual may impact another to the point of shaping that person while the same sense of humor may have no effect on someone else.
Regardless of levels of intelligence we all want human connection, friendship and the ability to relate. In Flowers for Algernon, as Charlie grew smarter he found it hard to relate to his colleagues due to his expanding knowledge. His experience with alienation from the acceptance and love he sought before the experiment ironically had the same result in the remedy. Charlie realizes this truth when he surpasses his experimenters in intellect and writes, "I've got to guard against the natural tendency to look down on them...but still it's frightening to realize my fate is in the hands of men who are not the giants I once thought them to be, men who don't know all the answers." Page 107. In Frankenstein, the monster took desperate measures to make a meaningful connection with Dr. Frankenstein by forcing him to listen to his story. Even though he was met with abhorrence and hatred the monster persisted, "Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you vent your hatred on my devoted head..." - Page 95. "Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me, listen to my tale; when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me..." - Page 97.
In the world of ethics, science falls into using manipulation in order to justify the reasoning of moving forward in the experimental aspects of science. In both books no one benefited from the experiments. Both scientists failed to properly handle the outcome of their creations. Upon the completion of these experiments both scientists were surrounded with guilt and were forced to explain their selfish reasons for their ambitions. In Flowers For Algernon, Professor Nemur placates Charlie with a sense of altruism and with accolades of human betterment and fame but the outcome was adulterated. Charlie later retorted with, "I've discovered that nobody really cares about Charlie Gordon, whether he's a moron or a genius." Professor Nemur replied, "You're feeling sorry for yourself. What did you expect? This experiment was calculated to raise your intelligence, not to make you popular. We had no control over what happened to your personality, and you've developed from a likable, retarded young man into an arrogant, self centered, antisocial bastard." Professor Nemur may have succeeded in his intellectual experiment but ended up detached from Charlie. The human equation was annihilated for the sake of science. Charlie resented professor Nemur due do his clinical attitude towards him. He felt like a guinea pig and Professor Nemur's references to, 'making him what he was' or coldly stating, 'someday there will be others like him who will become real human beings' sums up Charlie's point when he states, "How can I make him understand that he did not create me? He doesn't realize I was a person before I came here." Page 101. The same ramifications can be seen with Dr. Frankenstein's reaction to his own creation and the fact he failed to create something beautiful. His mind was completely focused and entangled with the processes of creating a functional human body to the point he ignored warnings about his ideas from his family and colleagues and proceeded under a cloak of secrecy. His father warned him early of the danger of his imaginative pursuits in the ancient philosophies and tried to direct him to return to his former modern system of scientific studies by stating, "Ah, Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash." Page 38. Dr. Frankenstein encompasses the spiritual consequences for creation without due authority in the following statement, "I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself... but my imagination was too much exalted" - page 52. His reaction to his creation was of disgust, horror, rejection and abandonment which lead to the destruction of himself, his creation and those he loved. Trying to take the authority of God into your own hands is problematic and leads to dysfunction because we were not meant to have such power.
Humans are curious and continue to push forward in experimental sciences which may contain beneficial outcomes for mankind but also have the same moral questions Algernon and Frankenstein encounter. Two modern equivalents that encompass these questions are found in computer science; specifically artificial intelligence and biology, in the field of genetic engineering. Artificial intelligence promotes the idea that this system will make life easier and connect science, economy and industry. AI is the 'well oiled machine' that connects society but we should question if this is a good thing. Are we giving too much control to a machine? What are the ramifications for a thinking people when a machine dictates and controls knowledge. In biology, genetic modification can help find and fight disease, it can also dictate gender, intelligence and even the eye color of a baby. This field can be extremely helpful but also lead to a 'god complex'.
As humans we are fated to question and yearn for answers. Our failure to correctly evaluate the moral consequences and set proper boundaries results in destruction instead of what is intended; the betterment of humanity. Reading these books will make you question if knowing is really worth the consequences. The experiment performed on Charlie resulted in feelings of ridicule and he explains this with Plato's allegory of the cave when he quoted, "...the men of the cave would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes." The regression of Charlie and his awareness of losing what he sacrificed himself for was littered with sorrow, pain and irreversible loss. Victor Frankensteins personal decent into madness and despair due to not being able to rectify himself to his mistake caused enormous pain within his soul and the world around him. " Thus spoke my prophetic soul, as torn by remorse, horror and despair, I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims of my unhallowed arts." Page 85.
In conclusion, both books refer to John Milton's, Paradise Lost to describe the main theme found throughout the pages. The souls of all characters were scarred in some manner by the decision to forgo natural set boundaries. The scientists and subjects lived within a newly distorted reality which took precedence in their minds. The scientists actions were captivated by their thinking which had residual results with their fellow man. Those associated with the experiments were effected with loss of life or loss of quality of life. In effect, all lost their innocence and were unable to re-coup their former selves. The lesson of the frailty of human nature and the limits we should live within is best stated by Milton, "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven."
References:
Keyes, Daniel. Flowers For Algernon, Bantam edition, July 1975.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstien, Signet Classic. Penguin Books, 1963.
Written with the help of my mom.
