Changes through quotes - Jennifer Amponsah

These five quotes are about Charlie's changes throughout the pages from the treatments.

"Now I understand one of the important reasons for going to college and getting an education is to learn that the things you've believed in all your life aren't true, and that nothing is what it appears to be." - Page 50

R: In this quote Charlie is as you can see, now being able to think for himself, and realizing the power of education. Throughout his life he could never think for himself, and therefore never have his own opinion on things, but now he can. I think I, and a lot of other people can agree with this. As you learn more things in life your then able to understand things more and make your own decisions on stuff.

"A look passed between them. I felt the blood rush to my face again. They were laughing at me. But then I understood the reason for the look. They weren't laughing. They knew what was happening to me. I had reached a new level, and anger and suspicion were my first reactions to the world around me." - Page 41

R: As Charlie's intelligence increases, he unlocks different emotions and capabilities he was not able to before. Before this whole start of treatments, he wouldn't ever get mad when people laughed or made fun of him. Now he's able to show more emotion, and anger is the main one of them, as that's how he feels about all the horrible things he's been through. I myself used to just stay all happy when jokes were thrown on me, but I've now started to actually defend myself and get angry. 

"I never knew about these things before. It's like if I get intelligent enough I'll understand all the words in my mind, and about my Uncle Herman and my parents. But what he means is then I'm going to feel bad about it all and I might get sick in my mind." - Page 34

R: A negative about this whole treatment Charlie is going through is that he'll remember things and understand thoroughly why a lot of stuff happened to him. His experience with family and people he thought were his friends are mostly bad things. Remembering all these things is hard as he's not used to it, so it will hurt his head. When I think about my past it makes me sad, as I miss a lot of those good memories. 

"I beet Algernon. I dint even know I beet him until Burt Selden told me. Then the second time I lost because I got so excited. But after that I beet him 8 more times. I must be getting smart to beat a smart mouse like Algernon. But I dont feel smarter." - Page 22

R: This is the great start that proved Charlie's intelligence was increasing. Just as his doctors said, he would not realize or feel that he was getting smarter, but he was. I relate his to beating one of my smart friends at a test, which really made me feel smarter. 

"We startid to reed a very hard book. I never red such a hard book before. Its called Robinson Crusoe about a man who get merooned on a dessert iland. Hes smart and figgers out all kinds of things so he can have a house and food and hes a good swimmer. Only I feel sorry for him because hes all alone and he has no frends. But I think their must be somebody else on the iland because theres a picture of him with his funny umbrela looking at feet-prints. I hope he gets a frend and not be so lonely."
- Page 24

R: I believe Charlie was relating the book to his own personal life, as he's being going through this whole journey without friends or family, just his doctors and therapists. I think everyone feels lonely in certain times in their lives, and that's why I really like this quote as it relates to almost everyone.