Flowers for Algernon is a story about a failed scientific experiment. However, the radio play also deals with other issues such as love and friendship, medical ethics, tampering with human intelligence and the consequences, and conflict of interest. On one level Flowers for Algernon is about a scientific experiment that goes wrong. Charlie Gordon is a thirty seven year old man, who has an IQ of sixty-eight. Charlie wants, more than anything, "to be smart." Charlie agrees to take part in an experimental operation, to hopefully triple his intelligence. The operation is successful, but not permanent, and the after effects leave Charlie in a worse state than before the operat