At the beginning of the story, Charlie views Algernon as a symbol of his own intellectual inferiority. He is envious of Algernon's intelligence and is determined to surpass him. Charlie sees Algernon as a rival and an obstacle to his own success.
As the story progresses, Charlie begins to see Algernon in a different light. He realizes that Algernon is not a rival, but a friend. Algernon is the only one who understands what Charlie is going through, and he is a constant source of support and encouragement. Charlie comes to love and respect Algernon, and he is devastated when Algernon dies.
By the end of the story, Charlie's opinion of Algernon has changed completely. He no longer sees Algernon as a symbol of his own inferiority, but as a symbol of his own humanity. Algernon's death teaches Charlie that even though he is not intellectually gifted, he is still capable of love, compassion, and friendship.