Final answer:
The title 'Flowers for Algernon' reflects the transient beauty of life's fleeting moments, symbolizing the temporary increase in intelligence experienced by the main character, Charlie, and serves as a tribute to Algernon, the lab mouse that undergoes the same procedure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A good reason for the title, Flowers for Algernon, can be found in the symbolic representation of the flowers themselves. In the novel, the main character, Charlie, undergoes an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. The story explores the ephemeral nature of human intelligence, the ethics of scientific experimentation, and the complexity of human relationships. As Algernon is a lab mouse that undergoes the same procedure before Charlie, the flowers can be seen as a tribute to Algernon's life and a metaphor for the transient enhancements in Charlie's mental capabilities. Just as flowers bloom beautifully but ultimately wither away, so too does Charlie's intelligence flourish before fading. Therefore, the title highlights not only the respect for the life that has passed but also the temporary beauty of life's fleeting moments.