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Harrison Bergeron: Hypothetical society
Equal rights argument essay
Equal rights argument essay
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Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron” is an eye-opening piece that touches on the idea of equality among humans in an interesting and unique way. We have seen people throughout history fight for equality, a fight that still continues on to this day. Especially here in America, it seems as though there is always some group somewhere pushing for some kind of equality whether it be racial equality, religious equality, gender equality, etc. Is it really equality that we want though? Or do we just want fairness? I think when many of us say that everyone should be equal, we are insisting that we should all be treated equally and provided with equal opportunities, not that each person should be equal in their amounts of athleticism and attractiveness. …show more content…
Vonnegut, who has realized this, shows us the reality of what our world would come to if we were striving for literal equality rather than fairness. He does this using connotative diction, exaggeration, and irony. As far as his use of connotative diction, Vonnegut takes equality, something typically viewed as being a positive concept, and turns it into a negative one. Vonnegut realized that this creation of a completely equal society is the furthest thing from fair, as well as that it would be more easily achieved by tearing some people down to a certain standard rather than trying to improve people to bring them up to this standard. In “Harrison Bergeron,” this standard is met in many different ways. Those above the standard are given weights to weigh them down, ugly masks to wear, ear pieces that make thinking and functioning normally impossible to do, and whatever else it takes to make them equal to everyone else. These accessories make sure that no one is too strong, too fast, too pretty, too smart, or too much of …show more content…
However, it was the “suspicion of [him] plotting to overthrow the government” that resulted in him being imprisoned though. When Harrison escaped from prison, he was described in the news broadcast as “a genius and an athlete, [who] is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous” Growing up in the society that is today’s American society, this idea that people are aiming for averageness rather than excellence can seem so absurd. The fact that Harrison’s description as a “genius” and “athlete” was supposed to make people afraid of him, that Hazel’s lack of intelligence and all-around averageness is described as “perfectly average,” and that the ballerina reading the television broadcast apologizes for her voice because it was “a warm, luminous, and timeless melody” can be very difficult to grasp. “Genius” and “athlete” are words of flattery, lack of intelligence is never desired, “average” is an insult, and people on the television are supposed to be have good voices. Or so we thought. By using this negative context and this negative attitude from characters toward equality, Vonnegut successfully creates this new idea where things that we consider to be wonderful and consider to be people’s strengths today are frowned upon and deemed as flaws. Although this all seems so backward and unimaginable, in Carl Mowery’s “An Overview of ‘Harrison Bergeron,’” we are brought to the realization
Equality appears to be the ideal factor that can perfect a society. It eliminates the need to feel envious of any human or their qualities. Nevertheless, with impartiality comes lack of diversity and ambition. Inequality is the entity that provides individuals with the passion to strive for a better life. If everyone has already reached their full potential there is no purpose for living. 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
Harrison Bergeron is a short story that creates many images and feelings while using symbols and themes to critique aspects of our lives. In the story, the future US government implements a mandatory handicap for any citizens who is over their standards of normal. The goal of the program is to make everyone equal in physical capabilities, mental aptitude and even outward appearance. The story is focused around a husband and wife whose son, Harrison, was taken by the government because he is very strong and smart, and therefore too above normal not to be locked up. But, Harrison’s will is too great. He ends up breaking out of prison, and into a TV studio where he appears on TV. There, he removes the government’s equipment off of himself, and a dancer, before beginning to dance beautifully until they are both killed by the authorities. The author uses this story to satire
Wood, Karen and Charles. “The Vonnegut Effect: Science Fiction and Beyond.” The Vonnegut Statement. Vol. 5. 1937. 133-57. The GaleGroup. Web. 10 March. 2014.
The individual is required to comply with society’s ideals. In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut sets the scene in this futuristic community when he begins, “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal … They were equal every
An impartial society: Utopia or Hell? What would happen to the world if the people were literally equal in every aspect of their lives? In the futuristic short story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the world is finally living up to America’s first amendment of everyone being created equal. In this society, the gifted, strong, and beautiful are required to wear handicaps of earphones, heavy weights, and hideous masks, respectively. Thus, these constraints leave the world equal from brains to brawn to beauty. With the world constantly pushing for equality among people, Vonnegut reveals a world that society is diligently working toward. Through this foreshadowing of the future, Vonnegut attempts to use Diana Moon Glampers and
The handicaps are to people as the cage is to the bird. This simile describes how Caged Bird and Harrison Bergeron are alike. Harrison Bergeron and Caged Bird are very alike in many reasons. They both reference limitations on freedom. In Caged Bird the limitation is that the bird is in the cage and cannot fly or go wherever it pleases. In Harrison Bergeron the limitations are all the handicaps. In Harrison Bergeron there are limitations to the citizens. These are called handicaps. When you are more capable at something then other people are then you receive handicaps that limit your abilities so that everyone is equal. Some handicaps are earpieces that stop you from thinking with a ringing sound, masks for those that have superior beauty, and
Aristotle said, “ The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.” True equality is hard to come by when there are so many things that make people so different. The word equality has a very general meaning. That meaning however, can be interpreted in many different ways. To some, the interpretation can lean more towards a sense of freedom. This freedom has been something society has been fighting for throughout the entirety of history. To others, such as author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., it could mean the complete opposite. In Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut portrays equality as a sort of societal imprisonment.
What would actually happen if everyone was forced to be equal? Kurt Vonnegut envisioned the fatal outcome in his masterpiece, “Harrison Bergeron.” The story illustrates “what would happen if a government or some other power takes this notion serious” (Mowery). The protagonist, Harrison, who is arrest for “exuberant individuality,” escapes from prison and goes on national television station to declare himself emperor, only later to be killed by the handicap general Diane Moon. In “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut satirizes the movement toward egalitarianism and the effect of television on people.
“Harrison Bergeron” a short story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., takes place in a totalitarian society where everyone is equal. A man who tries to play the savior, but ultimately fails in his endeavors to change the world. Vonnegut short story showed political views on communism, which is that total equality is not good (and that equity might be better).
"All men are created equal" since the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776, the country is chasing the idea of equality. In the short story Harrison Bergeron, author Kurt Vonnegut discuss about the effect equality to imaginary future society. Set in 2084 when all the human are finally equal in every where. Government use device like noisy earphone or heavy balls to force people equal, Harrison- the son of the Bergeron family was born with many advantages. In story the author Kurt Vonnegut use conflict, irony and setting in his lines to emphasize the point which equality in every way will harm the society, culture and the people.
What would happen to the world if everyone in our society was equal in every aspect? Would this create utopia or hell? In this short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. America has finally achieved full social equality, and living up to the first amendment fully. In this futuristic society, handicaps force this equality, the strong, the beautiful, the intelligent are forced to wear weights, masks, and headphones. These constraints force equality among the American people from beauty and brains, to strength. Harrison is the symbol of defiance and individuality, and represents the aspects of the American people that still want to try hard, out do their peers, and show off their attributes. The story criticizes the policy of equality
Have you ever imagined everyone in your society being the same in every way? In the short story “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut he shows what it would look like in life. Vonnegut illustrated the way the government is trying to control everybody. If you are more intelligent or healthier than somebody else, you would have to wear an earpiece or some type of handicapped weights to make everyone equal. Everyone wants to be different from one another, and have equal rights no matter who you are. However, i’m going to prove that everyone does not want to be the same.
They were equal every which way” (Vonnegut). There are no advantages; no one can improve their situation for the sake of preventing anyone’s situation to get worse. The word “finally” in this passage suggests that our current society is on track to this end. He tried to call attention to the difference between the vision of equality and the current ideal of equal opportunity. The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal,” but it does not imply that all men should live equal. It simply cements the ideal that no person is born more or less important than another. In “Harrison Bergeron,” everyone is born equal, and then forced to remain so in every way; resulting in poor quality of life. There is no entertainment because excellence and creativity are squashed for the sake of ‘fairness.’ For example, the news anchor stutters through his greeting, “…like all announcers, [he] had a serious speech impediment” (Vonnegut). The news anchor was ironically picked because of his stutter even though clear speech is a critical part of anchoring the news.
In conclusion, the complete freedom and absolute equality have been a goal of innumerable societies throughout human history. However, these two ideal cannot exist together in their most perfect forms because the perfect forms of either freedom or equality represent total chaos or total oppression, as we can see in “Harrison Bergeron,” the consequences of sacrificing freedom for perfect equality. The author uses the story of this imaginary perfect world where everyone is happy to demonstrate that a society in which total equality exists is not only oppressive, but also inert and unproductive. Using his futuristic scenario, the simplicity of the society, and the actions of his characters, Vonnegut makes his point of view of a repressive society. In addition, societies that try to create total equality have almost always proven to be oppressive, such as China.
Farrell, Susan. "'Harrison Bergeron'." Critical Companion to Kurt Vonnegut: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. 9 March 2010. http://www.fofweb.com