Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron By Kurt Vonnegut

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The meaning of freedom is self-explanatory when first mentioned, however it has a deeper meaning for an individual rather than a group of people. “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut, is dystopian fiction, in which the story takes place in the future, but society is broken. Kurt Vonnegut based his story on a society that had attempted to create the perfect world of equality, but it went awry. In the short story, “A&P,” by John Updike, 19-year-old Sammy works as a grocery store clerk in a small town in New England. One day three girls in swimming suits come in to grab something and are asked to dress more appropriately next time. Sammy quits his job after the girls leave and realizes afterwards that his all alone. Both Updike and Vonnegut are urging the audience to consider the meaning of freedom; however …show more content…
The main characters in, “Harrison Bergeron,” is ironically, Harrison Bergeron’s parents, George and Hazel Bergeron. However, their son is the protagonist of the story, but not the main character. The main characters also do not want freedom like Sammy in “A&P.” As an absurdist, Vonnegut wrote to show how a world with no opposition would cause despair for society. “All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General. Some things about living still weren’t quite right, though.” (pg. 459) The meaning of freedom is verbalized to everyone through the media in the story. When Harrison Bergeron destroys his handicaps off and dances with one of the ballerinas he expresses that everyone is beautiful in their own way even if they rebel against what society thinks is acceptable. “Shall we show the people the meaning of the word dance?” (pg. 464) Harrison shows how individuality and beauty is really stunning without the handicaps and society’s expectations through

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