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Similarities and Differences of Harrison Bergeron
A reflection essay on harrison bergeron by kurt vonnegut
Similarities and Differences of Harrison Bergeron
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In the short story, Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, the theme of not falling to conformity is present throughout the entire story. The Bergeron family consists of George, Hazel, and their son Harrison. The father, George, has an above average intelligence compared to many of people that are a part of the dystopian society. Due to his higher intelligence, the government has issued him a radio in his ear that would prevent him from developing any meaningful thoughts. It is safe to presume that anyone else in a similar situation was also handicapped like George was. The dystopian government effectively made all its people the same, different kinds of intelligence could not be expressed, along with woman’s beauty being hidden through the use of masks. …show more content…
These hindrances and forcing conformity on the people of the dystopian society would not bring any variety to its people. If one wanted to grow as a person they would not be able to. Even if they wanted to they would be stopped by the government and either be punished or brought back to their state of “sameness”. Harrison, an anarchist, was taken away from his parents at a young age and jailed. However, he escaped sometime later; as readers find out from a government message during a ballet show. Soon during the ballet performance, Harrison comes crashing in revealing his motives of going against the conformist government. Simply because he sees things differently and does not want to be like everyone else, he is seen as a public enemy and is considered very dangerous. Bergeron reveals true beauty through the dancer he interacts with. Which shows how important individuality is in everyday lives. However, the Handicapper General shortly shoots both Harrison and the Dancer down; not caring what they stand for. The government cuts the television abruptly and Hazel along with George does not understand what they missed and carry on with their “normal”
The short novel “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut presents a futuristic portrayal of a world where everyone is equal in every way possible. In “Harrison Bergeron,” Vonnegut displays the clear flaws in society that lead to the creation of a horrific dystopia that lacks genuine human emotions, fails to develop as a civilized community and is strictly government At the beginning of the story we are introduced to George and Hazel who are an ordinary couple that consequently suffer from handicaps. They are recalling the time when their son, Harrison Bergeron, was taken from his home by the handicapper general. It was an unhappy thought “but George and Hazel couldn't think about it very hard” (Vonnegut 1) due to the mental radio that separated the two from regular functioning emotions. Although Hazel was not affected by the handicap itself, it became a societal norm to act almost robot-like.
Imagine a society where not a single person competes with another. It has been like this for years, yet nothing has changed since the start of this new world. No new technology, no new occupations, no new discoveries. Absolutely nothing is different. Without competition no one will push themselves to be better or to achieve any goals, and without new achievements society cannot survive, let alone thrive. The short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. discusses this topic. Set in a society where anyone above average in any way is handicapped, therefore everyone is completely and totally equal. One handicapped man, George’s, son is taken away by the government at the mere age of fourteen under suspicion of rebellious intentions. Another
Harrison Bergeron’s mother, Hazel Bergeron, is the definition of the Handicapper General’s “normal” and model for enforced equality. Everyone must be leveled and thereby oppressed to her standards. Hazel’s husband, George Bergeron, is no exception. “‘I’d think it would be real interesting, hearing all the different sounds,’ said Hazel, a little envious. ‘All the things they think up.’” (Vonnegut 910). George suffers from his own comically ludicrous mental handicap. The fact that this incites jealousy in Hazel reaffirms the artificial equality Vonnegut ridicules. The author satirizes oppression in American society through his depictions of misery and restraint exhibited in his characters’ ordeals. “The different times that George is interrupted from thinking, and his inner monologue is cut, we have a sort of stopping his having dialogue with himself. So he can’t have a unique personality, which itself involves his worldviews” (Joodaki 71). Not being able to know oneself epitomizes
……………Most of the numerous and very disparate urban utopias imagined since antiquity, claim more or less a social justice combining equality, fairness, and freedom. However the methods invented to reach this social justice often lead to more binding law, sometimes up to the absurd, that limited the abilities and capacities of the citizens. Thus, behind the mask of an ideal equality, is concealed in fact, a tremendous social injustice. In “Harrison Bergeron”, Kurt Vonnegut’s shows us the consequences of sacrificing freedom for perfect equality by using the story of an excessive utopia to demonstrate that a society in which total equality exists, is not only oppressive, but also static and inefficient. Vonnegut exemplifies the image of fairness
Vonnegut uses Harrison in this short story to display that remarkable people will protest, rebel, and work against the handicaps until this brutal system is abolished. He writes, “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds,” (Vonnegut, 5). Due to the mandated handicaps that prevent the citizens from becoming their aspirations or reaching their full potential, no competition is permitted. Without competition in any shape or form, there can be no improvement in any area of life. In this dystopia where individual disputes are non-existent because people have stopped competing with each other and cannot think for themselves, the result is a stagnant, deadpan society where universal normality is valued above all else. All innovation that requires individual thought will be halted, all critical thinking will end, and the economy will eventually collapse due to the lack of improvement. Vonnegut’s form of equality where everyone is the same will never succeed in any way because it demoralizes and dispirits the human race and stops all creativity and originality. Vonnegut wrote this story to show readers that all people should not be equal, but rather, individual strengths and weaknesses making
In a society where the talented are so handicapped that they cannot even function, the theme reflects the impracticality and dangers of egalitarianism. Harrison Bergeron symbolizes defiance and survival next tot eh TV symbolizing brainwash. The third person narrator creates an effective and fair method of detailing all the events in this futuristic society. Harrison Bergeron’s conflict creates an understanding of the result of total equality. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. emphasizes the need for competition and individuality in society, in order to live with freedom and prosperity.
In the story Harrison Bergeron which was written by “Kurt Vonnegut” And The story is about A man whose name is Harrison Bergeron who makes everyone think that everyone is equal, but actually he wants to feel that he is stronger and smarter than everyone else. He also controls people by putting chips/microchips into people’s ears but, later in the story something happens not expected at all.
In 2081, everyone in society was finally created equal, nobody was smarter or better looking due to the handicaps assigned to them by the Handicapper General Diana Moon Glampers. Harrison Bergeron was a young 14-year-old boy who lived at home with his parents Hazel and George. He was an ambitious young man who did not like how the world was being run and was removed from his home and placed in jail. On day on television, he was announced that he escaped from jail. “Harrison Bergeron, age fourteen has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.” It was believed he was trying to overthrow the government and felt if he was locked up he would not be a harm to society.
Politician, George Mason, once stated, “We came equals into this world, and equals shall we go out of it” (Brainyquote). People would assume that this task was far too easy; to leave the world as equal beings. The short story, Harrison Bergeron written by Kurt Vonnegut, is about a man and a woman, George and Hazel, who are living in a futuristic dystopian society. George, having an above average intelligence, is forced to wear a mental handicap radio to keep him from thinking for too long; while Hazel, having an average intelligence of thinking in short bursts, is not required to wear a handicap. Harrison, their son, has escaped the restraints that were attempting to keep him equal to everyone else. On live television, Harrison rebels against
The short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut can be understood differently depending on the person’s perspective and the background information they know. After doing some research on the author Vonnegut i got a closer perspective of his life and to what might have influenced him to write this short story. While i was reading this story i realized it was satirical, there was a lot of exaggeration and irony. My understanding upon this story was that in the year 2080 everyone was finally equal in every aspect. Those who were brighter, better looking, or more talented were provided with handicaps that eliminated any advantages and to average out to everyone else. Vonnegut took the concept of equality to an extreme but there was a lot behind it..
Kurt Vonnegut gave his characters all a handicap bags because he wanted everyone to be equal. Beautiful people had to wear masks because it wouldn’t be equal if they were prettier than another person. Much like the United States government, the government in “Harrison Bergeron” is pushing equality and making sure that everyone is the same. Equality is beautiful, but Vonnegut suggests that equality can be dangerous. People in the society that he has written about can’t have a better appearance, behavior, or achievement. The government has full control of every citizen, they aren’t
When a person or group of people join a distinct opposition towards someone or something, it is discrimination. People are inadequately affected through hate and criticism because of the unique differences we each hold as human beings. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, he presents us with the mental vision of Tall Poppy Syndrome. These circumstances could negatively attribute to our government being detrimental to our future society by indoctrinating equality within the nation.
Harrison Bergeron goes against conformity to try and brake the equality of everyone. It states in the story “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds.” -Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. In this quote it shows the power he has to try and brake away from everyone else and try to do what he wants instead of being like everyone else. By doing this, he is going against conformity in the society to be himself and not like others.
There are many gender stereotypes in this world and how women are treated less than men. Women are shown as weak, dumb, and helpless while men are shown as strong, smart, and leaders. People try to be in an equal society but are not truly equal. Through the portrayal of gender equality shown in Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” the leader create an unequal gender society. Where people are unable to be who they are and losing their voice, resulting in a society where equality rules. Vonnegut’s short story suggests that people strive for equality and diversity is a necessity. People want to be in a society where they can be free to express their emotions and their personality.
People with above average intelligence are forced to wear transponders, which send signals with sharp noises to distract them and keep them in line with the rest of the people. George Bergeron is one of those individuals who wears such transponders and also carries a heavy bag around his neck because he is more intelligent and stronger than his wife Hazel Bergeron. Hazel is a person of below average intelligence, but a very kind and loving wife. The couple has a fourteen-year-old son, Harrison Bergeron, who is in jail. He tried to overthrow the government because he disagreed with egalitarian policies.