Characterizations of other characters

Other relevant characters in the short story are Miss Kinnian, Charlie’s colleagues FrankReilly and Joe Crap, and the two scientists, Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur. They relevant for the way Charlie Gordon, the protagonist, relates to them and the attitudes they display towards Charlie.

Miss Kinnian

Miss Kinnian’s outer characterization presents her as a language teacher for those who are mentally underdeveloped,...

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Inner characterization

In terms of inner characterization, the most relevant is her attitude to Charlie. When Charlie is mentally disabled, she appreciates his efforts for overcoming his condition and keeps encouraging him. After the operation, she helps him learn, although she realizes that Charlie will soon become more intelligent than her, and this makes her feel uncomfortable:

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Frank Reilly and Joe Crap

The two work colleagues of Charlie, Frank and Joe, are secondary characters in the short story, and they are relevant for attitudes towards the disabled.

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Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur

The two scientists are also secondary characters in the short story and are only presented from Charlie’s perspective. Dr. Strauss is fifty and Dr. Nemur is sixty, and they are most of the time presented in contrast: “I suspect that Dr. Nemur, who is sixty--ten years older than Dr. Strauss--finds it necessary to see tangible results of his work.”

Out of the two of them, it is Dr. Strauss who is closer to Charlie and the one who convinces his partner to use Charlie in the experiment.

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