Flowers For Algernon

Charlie begins to take an interest in Alice. The two go to dinner and a movie, but he is confused by his romantic feelings and scared to act. He feels continued frustration that, even as his intelligence increases, he understands and remembers little about his past. Alice tries to console him and says he still needs time to develop. He becomes more frustrated, though he later realizes she was right. Memories of Charlie’s childhood continue to emerge. He recalls looking at his sister through the keyhole of her door, as well as his mother beating him for having an erection.

He wonders if there is a connection between these memories and his inability to act on his feelings for Alice. Alice and Charlie go on another outing to a concert in Central Park. They recline on the grass, listening to the music. Suddenly, Charlie thinks he sees a teenage boy spying on them from the bushes and exposing himself. He believes it to be a hallucination and is deeply troubled.

At the bakery, Charlie notices that Gimpy has been stealing money. He is troubled by what he learns, first imagining that there are innocent reasons. When he realizes that Gimpy is stealing, he is torn by the moral dilemma.