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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.. …show more content…
Beyond the literal text there was multiple messages that stood out, they related to events that were occurring in 2009 and even now. I think one of Vonnegut’s main reasons behind this story was to reach out and send a message to a diverse audience. There were a variety of messages with infante meanings. Therefore some of the topics i personally understood from the story were social and political issues.
The political issues were about the government dictating everyone in every aspect. In 2009 when this story was published there was issues on equality, such as fighting for gay rights. When Barack Obama became president people started frequent rallies in washington and all over different states. They were protesting for a proposition that allowed same sexmarriage (peters). Till this day people are fighting for equality, currently this year, 2016 there is a “Black lives matter movement”. This movement rose around the country in response of racism against African-Americans and police attacks towards them (“The truth of black lives matter). I think that Vonnegut exaggerated on “Equality” in this story because it’s an enormous issue that might never have an end because it would be almost impossible for everyone to be equal. Although it’s a social issue it can become a political issue by the way the government decides to take charge upon people fighting for “equality”. Vonnegut might have exaggerated to make his audience realize that if everyone wants equality that’s how it would end up, like in “Harrison
Bergeron”. Another topic that i noticed Vonnegut used throughout his short story was culture, such as what is considered “beautiful”. In “Harrison Bergeron” the bailarinas described had their face covered with a mask because they were considered beautiful. For the past years and currently there has been many stereotypes on what defines beauty. I think Vonnegut made the concept of beauty stand out in his story because it’s something people are judged upon on a daily basis if they reach the standards of being beautiful enough. One of the lines in the story says-“"Ladies and Gentlemen," said the ballerina, reading the bulletin. She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous. And it was easy to see that she was the strongest and most graceful of all the dancers, for her handicap bags were as big as those worn by two-hundred pound men.” (“Harrison Bergeron”). I think this sentence is very powerful and meaningful because even if the bailarinas are covered and in handicap people are still aware that she must be beautiful. Being covered dosen’t change the fact she is beautiful it just shows that others can not handle or resist to others looks. The meaning and message the audience gets from “Harrison Bergeron” may not be the message Vonnegut wanted to bring out. From the research i did i learned he was a troop that was sent to world war two. He had been captured and taken by the enemy during combat along with other troops to Dresden. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was so powerful he was trying to get rid off jews and other races that he thought would cause trouble. He wanted an all german race, that he considered the perfect person. Knowing that Vonnegut lived through this made me realize and think deeper to what might have been the reason for him to write this story and have the main idea be “equality”. I think that at that time he was unsure if he was going to survive and thought about what was going to happen, therefore he wrote this story to open people’s minds. Although equality might sound nice and perfect it isn’t what people expect it to be. In his story he goes full on the detail of how equal they were, starting from the noises in their ears to the masks they wore. “Harrison Bergeron” is an eye opening story of what equality really means. Although this was written six years ago it is still very relevant to today’s society. Starting from equality issues to how the government is ran. Everyone wants something different- and i think that’s what leads it to the type of equality that Vonnegut expresses in his story. I as well thing that he choose the year 2080 because we aren’t equal yet but we are slowly getting there year after year. I think Vonnegut would question his readers if that’s what they really wanted for the future. Ultimately i think we are still reading Kurt Vonnegut’s works because throughout his stories he sends out multiple meaningful messages to his readers. His writing is also very unique, he talks about serious topics and finds a way to use satire. Such as in his book “SlaughterHouse five”, he writes about World War II experiences and journeys with irony and humor. For example “You’ll pretend you were men instead of babies, and you’ll be portrayed in movies by Frank Sinatra and John Wayne or some of those other glamorous, war-loving, dirty old men. And war will look just wonderful, so we’ll have a lot more of them. And they’ll be fought by babies like babies upstairs” (Slaughterhouse chapter one). This line like many others show that it is an anti-war book although it doesn’t directly say it. This quote emphasis that boys were drafted into world WWII at a young age and it stunned their emotional growth. It also expresses an idea of war continuing to be popular because the life of soldiers is glamorized by writers. Slaughterhouse Five like many other of Vonnegut’s stories are full of relatable meanings. As well as “Harrison Bergeron”, Vonnegut’s work has more to it than the literal text. His work makes you think and opens your mind on issues that are still very relevant. In “Harrison Bergeron” the relevance is the belief of “equality”.
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
Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.” Kurt Vonnegut portrays Aristotle’s philosophy brilliantly in his short story “Harrison Bergeron.” The story depicts the American government in the future mandating physical handicaps in an attempt to make everyone equal. Vonnegut describes a world where no one is allowed to excel in the areas of intelligence, athletics, or beauty. Yet, the inequalities among the people shine even brighter. Vonnegut uses satire to explore the question of whether true equality can ever really exist.
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
First of all, the story makes it quite clear that complete equality should not be pursued and that every person should be able to possess their own abilities and attributes. The setting of this story is key to the theme. The first few lines of “Harrison Bergeron” makes it extremely clear how the setting will be a defining part of the story: “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law.
Kurt Vonnegurt’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron” is set in 2081, where everyone is equal. No one is smarter than anyone else, better looking than anyone else, or better in any way than anyone else. If you were smarter than someone, you would have a handicap to make you average to everyone else. If you were strong, you would have a handicap to make you weak. In this world, equality is everything. The government does this because they don’t want others to become envious of their peers. One lesson that can be taught through this story is, people will always be jealous of what makes you different from them because, everyone wants to be better than the person sitting next to them.
Have you ever wondered what life would be if everyone was equal? Well, in the year 2081, the government made everyone equal with handicaps. In the story “Harrison Bergeron”, the government makes people with special talents or abilities wear handicaps. I agree with the claim,”Everyone was not truly equal in “Harrison Bergeron”. Some reasons why I believe that this statement wasn’t true is that the handicaps don’t take away your abilities, handicaps are not useful, and it is not fair for the people with abilities to wear handicaps. Everyone is truly equal in “Harrison Bergeron” because it made average people and below average people feel equal to the higher and better people.
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
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.
According to Darryl Hattenhauer, in the beginning of “Harrison Bergeron,” the narrator 's presentations of this utopia 's muddled definition of equality is “THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal…nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.” Because of the Amendments 211, 212, and 213 of
What if, in the society you lived in everyone is identically equal. Equal in every way from religion to laws, looks, strength, and intelligence. Well in the society of the short story “Harrison Bergeron” and short film 2081, that is the case. In the science-fiction short story “Harrison Bergeron” (1961), conducted by author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and the short film 2081 (2011), directed by Chandler Tuttle, the idea of a dystopian society of egalitarianism is a prevalent theme that can be examined in depth for both the similarities and differences. Throughout the short story and short film , “Harrison Bergeron” and 2081, there are two main similarities and two main differences linked between the two subjects.
“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).
“The narrator of the story Harrison Bergeron definitions’ of America’s equality begins not by positing a future equality as much as exposing the misunderstanding of it in the past and the present” (Hattenhauer). The story Harrison Bergeron has two meanings: too much equality and too much inequality. Too much equality is expressed through the Handicap General, Diana Glampers, as she wants everyone to be equal because she envies the talented and beautiful. However, “it is not fair to the productive, the risk taking, or the hard working, to deprive them of what they have produced, merely to make them equal to others who have worked less, taken less risk, and produced less” (Moore). This society would never work because “no one who has lived very long can think that all men are equal in physical, prowess, mental capacity, willingness to work or save, to assume leadership, to design or invent new products or processes, to get votes, to preach sermons, to play the violin, or even to make love” (Even Fingerprints Differ). In any society one should not have the power to make people equal for each “were endowed by our creator” (Moore). In a society where there is too much inequality, or a potential dictatorship- Harrison Bergeron, society would fail as well. Kurt Vonnegut wrote Harrison Bergeron in order to show the world that we cannot take away talent or
The story of Harrison Bergeron takes place in the distant future, year 2081. In this version of the future they have gone to great lengths to make everyone equal. Although society may be equal, it is not the best way for society to be. The story Harrison Bergeron makes this point by using its setting, plot, and characters to show that equality is not the solution to all the problems.
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
Have you ever wanted things to become equal? The story “Harrison Bergeron” makes up a fictional world in the year 2081 where everyone in society is equal. If somebody was above average, they would give that person handicaps to make everyone just as equal as them. However, I believe that everyone in the story wasn’t all truly equal. Not everyone is wearing a handicap and not everyone get to show off their talents.