Flowers for Algernon

When Charlie discovers that Gimpy is stealing money from Donner, he first realizes that intelligence is not all that it seems. Moral dilemmas are outside the realm of a simple high IQ. Charlie says, “What’s right? Ironic that all my intelligence doesn’t help me solve a problem like this” (69), but ultimately finds that the answers to such problems combine common sense with intelligence and emotional history.

For additional information on irony in the novel, check out GradeSaver's irony page in its study guide for the unit.