What defines a "hero" can vary wildly, depending on who you ask: some heroes may be veterans fighting for their country, while others can simply be simple citizens who help and save others. But could someone who survives a risky operation have the qualities of a hero? In the short story "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, the main protagonist Charlie Gordon, a thirty-seven-year-old adult with an IQ of sixty-eight, undergoes a life-threatening operation to triple his IQ. After the operation, when Charlie realizes the effects he will soon have, he develops feelings of regret and suicide. As a result, he feels more and more regret and suicidal feelings. Although Charlie Gordon feels hopeless and suicidal, Charlie Gordon possesses heroic qualities because he saw his destiny through Algernon and chooses to accept his fate. Additionally, Charlie has the courage to let go of his past and start over in a new environment so his friends don't have to feel sorry for him. Even though Charlie Gordon didn't help anyone directly, he still has the qualities of a hero. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay For example, Charlie Gordon takes part in an operation that he doesn't fully understand, but afterward he begins to have suicidal thoughts but Charlie has the courage to persevere. “I want to be left to my own devices. I became touchy and irritable. [...] It is difficult to get rid of suicidal thoughts” (533). Charlie's feelings are very negative, but even then he still tries to fight them and states that it is very difficult. Instead of crying and giving up, Charlie Gordon remains conscious of how his participation in the operation will help others like him in the future. Once the effects of the operation have completely worn off, Charlie does not feel sad, but rather feels grateful for what he experiences during his moment of intelligence, even for a fleeting moment. "If you ever read this, Miss Kinnian, don't feel sorry for me, I'm glad I got a second chance to be smart because I learned a lot of things I never knew in this world and I'm grateful to have seen a little bit of everything." Even though Charlie experiences all the pain and suffering, he still feels grateful for what he has left despite the amount. In addition to focusing on what he has lost, Charlie focuses on how he will grow from his previous experiences. Charlie Gordon is a very kind and extremely caring man, he doesn't have a single trace of negativity in him. Charlie is heroic because he has the courage to start over in an unfamiliar environment where all kinds of people can put him down and insult him, just so that everyone he knows doesn't have to feel sympathy about his state. "I don't want Miss Kinnian to feel sorry for me." Everyone feels sorry at the factory and I don’t want that time…” (538). Charlie is very attentive to the feelings of others; he doesn't want them to feel sorry or guilty towards himself. He loves and cares about everyone from his past and is willing to sacrifice himself in a new world just so they don't have to feel bad about anything. Charlie also knows how to defend himself against bullies when they insult him; he does this without harming them, as his progress reports show. “I told myself Charlie, if they make fun of you, don't blame yourself because you remember they weren't as smart as you once, they thought they were once your friends and s 'they..