Essay

Throughout the short stories, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and “Examination Day” by Henry Slesar, the authors explore the themes of total equality in a futuristic setting. Dickie and Dianna Moon are disparate personalities who live in dysfunctional and dystopian societies. In the short stories, government control creates an illusion of an egalitarian society.

First of all, Dianna Moon Glampers the handicapper general, is a flat character who has a callous, law-abiding disposition that helps her obtain her title as an autocratic leader. Dianna Moon’s ruthless personality is showcased when she brutally shots Harrison Bergeron and his Empress. Later she loads a gun again and aims it at the musicians and tells them they have ten seconds to get their handicaps back on, which corroborates her violent personality. Moreover, Diana Moon’s obedience for the law is revealed. Regardless of her forceful manner, she follows the rules of her job and eradicates member of society who are disrupting the seemingly equal communities. Additionally, her tyrannical temperament helps her acquire her title as an autocratic leader. The power she has is evident in the story because she comes to the studio with a double barreled ten gauge shotgun without fearing the consequences of her actions. Furthermore, the conflict is shown when Harrison challenges the rule of the totalitarian government. He goes on television in a futile attempt to bring revolution to the dystopian society. Harrison struggles to abide the laws of the government and escapes prison to show others the goodness of humanity, but he is shot by Dianna Moon. This external conflict is realistic because when someone tries to stand up for their rights and freedoms, they are negl...

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...in. On the contrary, Examination Day has the main symbol of the exam, which signifies the misuse of power. Additionally, the government building represents corruption. Moreover, the ironic situation in this story is that the exam is supposed to help society advance to the next level, but instead it determines life or death for a person. Also, the government puts pressure to create total equality, but they end up destroying the natural way life by making the society dystopian.

In conclusion, the government creates a façade of an equal society. Dickie and Dianna Moon’s contrasting personalities showcase their differences. Throughout the stories it is prevalent, that Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Henry Slesar have many distinctions regarding their characters, theme, and irony and symbolism. Overall, the government imposes strict rules and regulations that lead to dystopia.