Answer:
Charlie was better off after the surgery in terms of his intelligence, but he was worse off emotionally and mentally. The surgery may have improved his cognitive abilities, but it came at a high cost to his well-being and happiness. So, although he was physically better off after the surgery, in terms of his intelligence, he was worse off emotionally and mentally. He was no longer the happy and content person he once was, but instead was left with the knowledge of a cruel and unfair world and the awareness of his own limitations.