Over the years, society has struggled in efforts to make equality an essential ambition. People have strived for being equal in status, privileges, and opportunities. However, these kinds of entitlements are never free of disparagers, doubters, and a number of other complications. A lack of equality leads to riots so one can be understood or it creates enmity amongst social hierarchies. An excess of equality disguises individualism and uniqueness. Equality among different groups has been a matter of controversy for several years.
In 1963 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. read his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to an audience of thousands, he retold the history of slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation. He describes the anguishes of African …show more content…
Vonnegut suggests that these ideals are ridiculous and dangerous if taken too literally. He creates a world in which the government forces people to wear handicaps to hinder them from their talents. Attractive people have to cover their faces with masks, those who are strong are forced to haul weights around, and intellectuals wear headsets that transmit noises to throw off their thoughts. The story begins with the example of George, who has an “intelligence way above normal, and wears a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. Every twenty seconds or so the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like him from taking unfair advantage of their brains” (Vonnegut 1). The writer illustrates how complete equality would create unnecessary totalitarianism within the community. Readers can see that there is a persistent struggle with the characters; they are unable to maintain rational thoughts long enough to defend or express themselves. Vonnegut continues by introducing Harrison, George’s son. Harrison desires to live unimpeded and tries to rebel against the government by breaking free from his extreme handicaps, only to come across an ultimate disaster. The author writes, “Harrison tore the straps of the handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds. Harrison smashed his headphones and spectacles against the wall. He flung away his rubber-ball nose, revealed a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder” (Vonnegut 6). While he was not instigating any violence against anyone, he threatened the government’s
In 1963 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. read his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to an audience of thousands, he retold the history of slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation. He describes the anguishes of African …show more content…
Vonnegut suggests that these ideals are ridiculous and dangerous if taken too literally. He creates a world in which the government forces people to wear handicaps to hinder them from their talents. Attractive people have to cover their faces with masks, those who are strong are forced to haul weights around, and intellectuals wear headsets that transmit noises to throw off their thoughts. The story begins with the example of George, who has an “intelligence way above normal, and wears a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. Every twenty seconds or so the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like him from taking unfair advantage of their brains” (Vonnegut 1). The writer illustrates how complete equality would create unnecessary totalitarianism within the community. Readers can see that there is a persistent struggle with the characters; they are unable to maintain rational thoughts long enough to defend or express themselves. Vonnegut continues by introducing Harrison, George’s son. Harrison desires to live unimpeded and tries to rebel against the government by breaking free from his extreme handicaps, only to come across an ultimate disaster. The author writes, “Harrison tore the straps of the handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds. Harrison smashed his headphones and spectacles against the wall. He flung away his rubber-ball nose, revealed a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder” (Vonnegut 6). While he was not instigating any violence against anyone, he threatened the government’s