Harrison Bergeron Analysis Essay

1264 Words3 Pages

In “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut Jr. paints a picture of a society that is made equal by handicapping the citizens. Vonnegut’s bizarre writing style exaggerates the truth, but is appropriate for the topic at hand. His satire writing has his audience really think about what image he is portraying of this crazy world where everyone one is equal, and how bizarre the idea is. The government handicaps everyone–no one looks better, has any talents, or intelligence, so all the people are equal, leaving the government with the upper hand. This short story relates to today’s society, and some thoughts people may have on today’s government. The government can have an impact on the way we think today by what is glorified in the news, what is being
When George and Hazel’s son was taken from them and imprisoned, the narrator explains that, “It was tragic, all right, but George and Hazel couldn 't think about it very hard” (par 3). George and Hazel had no mind of their own anymore, and couldn 't even use their brains to process the loss of their own son who’s murder was broadcasted on TV. Abdol Hossein Joodaki and Hamedi Mahdiany, Professor and student of English Literature, write about Vonnegut’s symbolism with TV and society “Here Vonnegut portrays television as a means to block thinking” (2). People today, like myself, do like to watch TV but it does have an impact on our brains. Some people watch TV instead of finding a hobby, reading a book, or exploring nature. We are not being our best by sitting in front of a television
Harrison’s freedom was taken away within seconds, just as our freedom in society can be taken away within seconds, especially if it had to do with rebelling against the government. Darryl Hattenhauer writes “So this story satirizes not just mistaken notions of equality. It also satirizes the American definition of freedom as the greatest good to the smallest number” (1). The word freedom, to me, is defined by the perception of the person you are asking. To me, freedom in America would be free schooling and healthcare, so we can be our best physically and mentally. In “Harrison Bergeron” freedom would be the obvious of having no handicaps, but also having the right to be intelligent, beautiful, or

Show More
Related

  • George Bergeron Quotes

    478 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the year 2081, people were finally equal, and everyone was equal in every which way. No one could be more intelligent than the other or more attractive. All of the equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution. The reader may feel sorry for George Bergeron because of his tallness and his handicaps, Hazel’s normal intelligence, and the comments about their son Harrison.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Thomas King And Harrison Bergeron

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    Society has developed throughout history into a seemingly equal; however, segregated commonwealth. In general, humanity may seem to have broken the nineteenth century class structure, nonetheless, there are situations today that still have deep roots in discrimination and apartheid. Advancement in both extremes can result in a catastrophe, therefore, it is inevitable that a balance must be reached. In the short stories “Totem” by Thomas King, and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, the theme of overdeveloped social beliefs have proven to be the most significant. In both stories, the author is trying to say that society is either too equal, such as in “Harrison Bergeron” or too contrasting such as in “Totem.”

    Read More

  • A Literary Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Unequality in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Censorship in Fahrenheit 451

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    People in this novel are afraid of themselves. They fear the thought of knowing, which leads them to depend on others to think for them. Since they are not thinking for themselves, they need something to occupy their time. This is where television comes in. Television, in turn, leads to a whole host of problems: violence, depression, and even suicide.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Harrison Bergeron

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” was created during the time frame of the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War and encompasses the definition of the word satire. Though the story itself is set in the distant future, the year 2081, one can see the influence of the past in this dark satirical portrayal of an American society. The author satirizes the very elements he was exposed to in his own environment and lifetime. Vonnegut mocks forced ideas of equality, power structures, and oppression, ideas that were prevalent and thriving in the atmosphere of his time of writing “Harrison Bergeron”.

    Read More

  • Conformity In Harrison Bergeron, The Lottery, By Kurt Vonnegut

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    Science fiction stories are a very effective way of conveying a strong point. In “Harrison Bergeron” the strength of this short story is its ability to make you think. Not just about the societal structure, but also the abuse of power, and repression. The intentional significance of this story is if people accept oppressive measures in the name of fairness. No one really benefits from these foolish attempts to enforce equality. The tyranny of the majority stifles any sort of freedoms, gifts, individualities, and strengths. If an action must ...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Individuality In Harrison Bergeron

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    The pages of history have longed been stained with the works of man written in blood. Wars and conflicts and bloodshed were all too common. But why? What could drive a man to kill another? Many would say it is man’s evil nature, his greed, envy, and wrath. And certainly, they all have a roll in it. But in reality, it is something far less malevolent, at least at first. The sole reason why conflicts grow and spread comes from the individuality that every human cherishes so dearly. This can easily be shown in the story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, in which a society has been created where everyone of talent has been handicapped so they are not better than anyone else, all for the sake of equality. This text will show that Individuality

    Read More

  • Surveillance in Foucault's Panopticism and Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

    1798 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...y are not prisoners, they are mere citizens that must constantly live lives of punishment in order to achieve equality. They can not think for themselves, or excel at anything in life, because they are all equal. Each of them is just like the next citizen. In Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron,” the United States in 2081 are not a society, but a Panoptic prison where the citizens are held and guarded like inmates, and this is no way to live.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    Harrison Bergeron is George and Hazel Bergeron 's fourteen-year-old child. He is the main special case in the general public - he exceeds every one of his impairments, and figures out how to figure out how to overcome them each time they are put on him. He is 'solid, keen, articulate, effortless ' and good looking - to put it plainly, "a virtuoso and a competitor". He is detained toward the start of the story however figures out how to get away.

    Read More

  • hARRISON BERGERON

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme statement of Harrison Bergeron is that egalitarianism is inefficient, and will eventually be resisted by society. Competition is what drives society forward, and if everyone is equal, we are not developing as one. Many of the people in the story are unable to complete their basic tasks or jobs. “It wasn’t clear what the bulletin was about, since the announcer, like all announcers, had a serious speech impediment.” this is unreasonable as it is the announcer’s job to broadcast the news, and when he is unable to do so, he has lost his purpose (61). Equality is everyone receiving the same, while justice is everyone receiving what they require. “She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous.” This is an example of the corrupti...

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron: A Dystopian Society

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    Never would I thought that we have a dystopian-like society in our world. Don’t know what a dystopia is? It is a society set in the future, typically portrayed in movies and books in, which everything is unpleasant. The novel Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut is a dystopian story of a fourteen-year-old boy named Harrison who grows up in a society that limits people’s individuality. When he is taken away from his parents, because of his strong idiosyncrasy, his parents do not even recall his presence because of the “mental handicaps” that the government forces onto them. Harrison eventually escapes from his imprisonment and tries to show others that they can get rid of the handicaps and be free. Though the government official, or Handicapper

    Read More

  • Everyone Was Not Equal In 'Harrison Bergeron'

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Repressive Society in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the comparisons are well hidden, both today’s society and the story ‘Harrison Bergeron’ share similar qualities. They both deal with equality, which leads to problems and consequences. A second similarity is the struggle of competition and trying to prevent it from occurring, which also leads to problems. Lastly, both struggle with normality, and the fact that it’s hard to accept that different is okay now.

    Read More

More about Harrison Bergeron Analysis Essay

Open Document