Flowers for Algernon (novel) – Daniel Keyes
Why am I always looking at life through a window?
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The presence of SzPD-related themes are mostly not obvious and likely not intentional, however they are there.
The existence of the old Charlie inside the adult Charlie inevitably reminds us of the exiled child and the adult false-self. The scene where he talks to himself in the mirror is textbook object relations theory.
His parents and childhood: it doesn’t matter how close your experience is to Charlie’s, it’s about emotions. Even if your childhood has been completely different, you likely experienced similar emotional effects from whatever was going on. In the final part, the mother – certainly because of her illness too – still repeats her old patterns toward the protagonist and his sister. It’s heartbreaking and it hits home, because the parents of schizoids never recognize and admit their wrongdoing.
Interaction with the opposite sex: the internal conflicts that inhibit the development of intimacy.
The schizoid’s narcissistic (cfr. Masterson) and cynical elements when he’s at the peak of his intelligence. He feels superior to everyone, but he has no friends and he’s alone.
Etc.