Kurt Vonnegut once observed, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be” (“Kurt Vonnegut Quotes”). In his writings on the self, philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel expresses a very similar sentiment. Therefore, it is no great surprise that an interesting example of Hegel’s Master-Slave dialectic is found in Kurt Vonnegut’s classic short story “Harrison Bergeron.” Vonnegut’s story is set in a dystopian future where, after the passage of “the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution” “everybody [is] finally equal” (7). Equality is realized by suppressing natural gifts, such as athletic prowess or great intelligence. The eponymous character is singularly gifted and, as a result, is burdened with the most …show more content…
Hegel asserts that the self is not innate and is, instead, socially constructed. He proposes a process, or struggle, wherein selves are realized, and this is called the Master-Slave dialectic. In the instance of Vonnegut’s story, Diana Moon Glampers, the government official charged with enforcing equality, would be the character most approximate to the Master from Hegel’s dialectic, but, more importantly, Harrison plays the role of the Slave. As much is obvious considering the power or lack thereof of each character—Moon Glampers welds great institutional power whereas Harrison is a relatively powerless outcast. (The tragic conclusion of the story makes clear that Harrison’s extraordinary individual strengths are ultimately no match for the will of the state.) Harrison, like the Slave Hegel describes, would realize his identity and, therefore, find his rightful place in society through labor, that is, purposeful application of his singular talents. Unfortunately, Harrison is a frustrated Slave and is deprived of such an opportunity because of the government’s misguided pursuit of absolute
Vonnegut Jr. uses metaphors to build up the tension in “Harrison Bergeron.” The passage claims, “Clanking, clownish, and huge, Harrison stood . . .” The story also says, “I am the Emperor!” These excerpts are significant for it shows the inspiring rebellion of Harrison. He claimed he was an emperor because he knew that equality should be overruled and as a start, the people needed a loyal ruler. He was attempting to use his intimidating “clanking, clownish, and huge” appearance to gain the attention of the people- and become a much needed ruler for the dystopian government of
Harrison Bergeron is a story about what happens in an attempt to create equality. Equality, media influence, fear and technology are themes used in both stories to change and create devastation in the future. The short story is a dystopian science fiction written by Vonnegut Kurt, it offers a critique on people’s claim that we should be equal and it has been
Upon analysis of Night, Elie Wiesel’s use of characterization and conflict in the memoir helps to illustrate how oppression and dehumanization can affect one’s identity by describing the actions of the Nazis and
In the story “Harrison Bergeron” a live broadcast is interrupted by Harrison Bergeron [George’s son] himself, freeing the people listening of their society and dancing away with a talented ballerina: “And then, in an explosion of joy and grace, into the air they sprang! Not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the laws of gravity and the laws of motion as well.” (Vonnegut 4). Once the government’s boundaries of full equality were taken away for a quick moment Harrison and a ballerina were able to excel, be free, and cross boundaries of science. Because these people were no longer held from showing their talent they were able to improve their skill after years of no improvement. Without being able to show talents to the people around one there is no competition, but without that competition one can not improve or express joy from what they are doing. For example, in today’s society if computer brands stopped competing to have the best and newest product our technology would not advance at all, nor would the computer engineer’s mind and skill. Competition creates many forms of external motivation and with that taken away
The story is concerned with the conflict between his conception of himself and the reality.
Kurt Vonnegut was a man of disjointed ideas, as is expressed through the eccentric protagonists that dominate his works. Part cynic and part genius, Kurt Vonnegut’s brilliance as a satirist derives from the deranged nature of the atrocities he had witnessed in his life. The reason Vonnegut’s satire is so popular and works so well is because Vonnegut had personal ties to all the elements that he lambasted in his works. Vonnegut’s experience as a soldier in WWII during firebombing of Dresden corrupted his mind and enabled him to express the chaotic reality of war, violence, obsession, sex and government in a raw and personal manner. Through three works specifically, “Welcome to the Monkey House,” “Harrison Bergeron,” and Slaughterhouse-five, one can see ties to all the chaotic elements of Vonnegut’s life that he routinely satirized. One can also see how Vonnegut’s personal experiences created his unique style of satire.
...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.
Set one hundred and twenty years in the future, Kurt Vonnegut’s dystopian world short story “Harrison Bergeron” is about the outcome of what happens when the government takes over due to people in society pleading for equality. Ranging from physical looks to one’s intelligence, it seems that people are continually unsatisfied with themselves when compared to others. However, there is one boy who refuses to conform to the laws set in place by the Handicapper General. Harrison Bergeron is that boy. The story tells of his capture, rebellion, and his demise due to breaking free from the laws of equality. In whole, Kurt Vonnegut wants his readers to assess the issue of equality in society before the made up world of his story turns into reality.
In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, the futuristic setting of 2081, demonstrates the negative impacts of excessive equality and the detrimental effects that it can have on society. The governing body in the story is provided too much power, forcing individuals to be tamed for their individuality. The laws enforce weights to be worn upon the strong and athletic, the intelligent to stick radios on or in their ears, broadcasting government messages to disrupt their concentration, and for the good looking individuals to cover their faces with a mask. Harrison Bergeron is the story 's protagonist, his parents George and Hazel, hold similar characteristics but lack Harrison’s qualities of individuality and defiance. Sympathy
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
In Kurt Vonnegut Jr’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron”, the reader is given a rather brumal glimpse into the future where “everyone [is] finally equal”. In this world, people are forced to live mediocre lives so they may be “equal”. At the climax of the story the title character escapes prison and executed because he represents everything that society should be. Although Vonnegut’s gallant protagonist isn’t successful in his attempt to “overthrow” the government, he is successful resurrecting things that have been eradicated from society; such as communication, beauty, dance, free will and love.
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live in a dystopian society where everyone is equal in every possible way? In Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, Harrison Bergeron, he delves into a world where the idea of egalitarianism has become reality for the United States in 2081. The 211th, 212th, 213th Amendments to the Constitution enforce a type of equality where no one is stronger, more intelligent, or more beautiful than another. Everyone is equal in every which way. All of this is done with the help of the United States Handicapper General, who makes sure everyone is kept strictly equal. But Harrison Bergeron, the seven-foot tall, powerful, and unbelievably handsome jail escapee, is having none of this. He dares to fight this so-called “equality.” In this fantastical yet darkly humorous short story, Vonnegut uses Harrison Bergeron to represent the dangers of total equality.
“They were equal in every which way” (Vonnegut Jr.), and their uniformity and lack of perspective made them feel blissful in such an oppressive culture. The lack of individuality illustrated prevents people from knowing what would be considered different. As people’s civil rights are slowly taken away, their ignorance deepens, along with their inability to think or act radically. Living in this handicapped society assures no memories, and thus, no sorrow. The absence of liberty and the inability to assess life’s circumstances makes the people happy to live in such a society. They do not know what freedom is and therefore, they only desire the lifestyle that they know and live, day to day. Just as people are oppressed, but happily live in ignorance, in “Harrison Bergeron,” the same setting appears in V for
Every time he or another intelligent person thinks in a way that surpasses the thinking ability of an “average” person, they receive a loud, disturbing noise in their ear. This is put into place to prevent the academically gifted from taking advantage of the average people, but really it prevents any forward thinking. With this handicap, no new ideas, philosophies, or inventions can be created. This atrocious attempt at equality does not better the community, it hurts it, not allowing it to grow and flourish. Finally, this theme is developed through the main focal point of the story, Harrison Bergeron. Harrison is what Diana Moon Glampers considers highly dangerous, because he is genetically gifted in all aspects of life. While most societies would enjoy having a man such as he, this dystopian society sees him as a threat. Instead of using him to further improve their civilization, they tried to put him in line with the rest of them. If he had not been shot, he would have done brilliant things, but involuntary equality held him back. In conclusion, the ballerinas, George, and Harrison Bergeron all help develop the theme of “Equality is meant for human rights and not physical or mental attributes” because they all show how they are not able to rise above due to the handicaps forced upon them
“Harrison Bergeron” is a short story written by Kurt Vonnegut and first published in October 1961. It is about a dystopia were everyone is equal in every way. Nobody is smarter than anybody else. Nobody is better looking than anybody else. Nobody is stronger or quicker than anybody else. In this brilliant short story Vonnegut really does change the meaning of what being a different individual is, and how important it can be, and how it leads to one’s personal form of freedom.