Daniel Keyes “Flowers for Algernon” exploits the change in relationships through the protagonist, Charlie Gordon. At the beginning of the novel Charlie is numb. His emotional and intellectual abilities did not develop. He believes that his colleagues: Joe, Frank and Gimpy are his true friends. Charlie Gordon doesn't feel physical or emotional intimacy with anyone and doesn't know much about his family. The relationships in Flowers for Algernon continue to manifest themselves throughout the entire plot. At the beginning of the novel it is evident that Charlie Gordon's innocent incompetence led him to be continually deceived and manipulated by people he considered friends. In Progress Report 3, Charlie is at the bakery and Gimpy is scolding him for dropping a tray he was carrying into the oven. However, Charlie is calm because he believes Gimpy is his friend and does not take his anger towards him seriously. In Progress report 7 Charlie is waking up from his operation. He is eager to go to the bakery and converse with Joe, Frank, and Gimpy. Charlie believes that his intelligence will impress them and that he will be able to interact with others and build more friendships. However, Charlie doesn't immediately get his wits about him. As he starts to get smarter, he realizes that his coworkers aren't really his true friends. Gordon finds that people he considered his friends were making fun of him. Another relationship that miraculously changes is Charlie's physical and emotional intimate relationships. Alice's compassion towards Charlie attracts him to her. She was always there for him before and after his brain surgery. Before the operation Charlie couldn't have... half the paper... he's still, stable. “But you know Charlie wouldn't hurt her. It can't make any difference to her at this age” (Keyes 170). The relationships Charlie encounters in the novel change dramatically from what they were before the operation took place. He realizes that Frank Reilly, Joe Carp and Gimpy are not his real friends. His relationship with Alice changes from a professional relationship to an intimate one. Charlie also finds out about his family and realizes that they have disowned him. The people he thought cared turned out to be his worst enemies. When Charlie realizes he has no friends, his family doesn't want him around, and his relationship with Alice won't work, he feels alone. Ultimately, the drastic changes in relationships he resists turn his entire life upside down.