Yes, it is based on a true story to some extent. The author, Daniel Keyes, was inspired by real - life experiences and the idea of what it would be like for a person with intellectual disabilities to have their intelligence suddenly increased and then face various consequences.
The significance lies in its exploration of human intelligence and the self. It shows the transformation of the protagonist, both in terms of mental ability and self - awareness. It makes readers think about what it really means to be intelligent and how society views those with different levels of intelligence.
The main character is Charlie. Algernon is also a very important character, though he is a mouse. Charlie is the human subject of the intelligence - enhancing experiment, and Algernon's experiences with the same experiment are used as a parallel to Charlie's.
Flowers might also represent Charlie's innocence. Before the experiment, he was simple - minded like a flower that just exists without much complication. But as his intelligence grows, he loses that innocent simplicity, and the contrast is like the change from a budding flower to a more complex state.