Similarities Between Harrison Bergeron And A & P

Heroes in their own Unique Ways

True heroes come in all shapes and sizes. When people think of heroes, they think of The Superman or Spiderman because of their superhuman powers, yet in the real world, heroes are determined base of their courage and their bravery. Although, Harrison from the story of “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and Sammy from “A&P” by John Updike have their difference, both characters provide a remarkable similarity in their stories. Each character categorizes as heroes because they disobey and confront their superior. Harrison when he attempted to overthrow the government and Sammy when he confronts the store manager. Despite, they share some similarities experience, the differences between Harrison and Sammy are

striking.
A hero shows his courage when they confront the injustice.

Harrison attempts to overthrow the government. Sammy confronts his manager for embarrassing the girls. Each character faces, their superior without caring about the consequences. Harrison related his bravery when he stands against of the authority because he does not agree with the term that everyone being equal. “Not only were the laws of gravity and the laws of motion as well (Vonnegut p 6).” Harrison did not agree with the laws of the general and he was killed for breaking them. Sammy related his bravery because he didn’t agree with the manger behavior. “Did you say something Sammy?” “I said I quit.” “I thought you did. You did have to embarrass them” (Updike p 167) Sammy quit his job because he did not agree with how the manger treated the girls for walking to the store with bathing suits. The article “No We’re Not All Equal and No You Can’t Be Anything You Want to Be” Steffi Erbilgin

writes
“We are not equal. We are all different, very different at times. This is a seriously good thing. This allows for our world to develop, to have depth, to create beauty and productivity. If everyone were truly equal then it would be a rather boring party.”
Harrison and Sammy show similarity because they confront their superior for not allowing others to be themselves. Although, the actions of both characters appear heroic by confronting the oppression, the way each despite their experience was diverse and seem to be told for different reasons.
Is Harrison a symbol of freedom.

When Harrison break his handicap harness in front of the world to reveal who he was and he proved to everyone that they can be free. “Harrison tore the traps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand ponds” (Vonnegut p 5). Harrison actions was heroic. He shows to everyone that they can be different and that they can fight the restriction that the government have on them. In the article “Balancing Freedom and Equality in a Vibrant Democracy” Schuyler Foerster writes

“The freedom to buy what you want, and not what others tell you to buy; the freedom to say what you want even if it hurts others or incites violence; the freedom to pollute everyone else’s air because you don’t want to be required to have an emissions test or adhere to clean air standards inscribed in law.” (p.

1)
Harrison becomes a symbol of liberation because he proves that it is possible to break free despite of the consequences. Moreover, Harrison tries to show everyone with music that they do not need to be equal and if everyone does not support the laws of equality their life can improve. “The music began again and was much Improved” (Vonnegut p. 5). Harrison took the musicians handicaps and when they started to play again their music improved. Furthermore, the fact that he confronts his superior for not agreeing with their limitations and then losing his life makes it more heroic. Harrison action proves the readers that his purpose was not to conquer the world, he purpose was that they could be different and that they can live life without limitation.
Are Sammy actions heroic or foolish? Sammy faced his manager and quit his job because he embarrassed three young girls for wearing bathing suits in his store. While it first appears to be a silly and a brainless decision. He action was very heroic. When Sammy quit his job, he is not quitting because of the manger bad behavior tour the girls, he is quitting because he does not want to work in a place in what he pictures as a strict and harsh workplace. After, Sammy quits his jobs, he looks back and sees the manager taking his spot. “I could see Lengel in my place in the slot, checking the sheep through.” (Updike p 167) and then Sammy describe the manager “His face was dark gray and his back stiff, as if he’d just had an injection of iron” (Updike p 167). When he sees the manger standing in the cashier, he sees a reflection of him. In the article “How to Mindfully Make Important Life Decisions” Deborah L. Davis says, “Big decisions often have big, long-lasting consequences.” Sammy realized that he made a good decision after all because he did not want to have the same lifestyle as the manger.
Although, Harrison from the story of “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and Sammy from “A&P” by John Updike prove similarity for confronting their superior and they made their choices based on what they believed was right. both character have their unique way of being a hero. Yet, Harrison actions were more heroic because he tries to prove to everyone that they can fight for their freedom and that they can break the limitation, while Sammy did not think about his actions at first, he realized that his actions was for his own good, when he saw the manager standing on his spot because he notice that he does not want to work in the same boring place and that he does not want to have the same life as the manger. Both characters are considered heroic for standing up against the authority and for their good action despite of the consequences they face.