Why are people reacting as they are to Charlie now in the flowers of algernon?

In "Flowers for Algernon," people react to Charlie with a mix of admiration and fear as his intelligence increases. Initially, he is seen as a simpleton, but as he becomes more intelligent, others struggle with their own insecurities and the changing dynamics of their relationships with him. Some feel threatened by his newfound intellect, while others are drawn to him, revealing the complexities of human interaction and the impact of intelligence on social connections. Ultimately, Charlie's transformation challenges societal norms and exposes the superficiality of how people value intelligence.