All our lives we’ve been taught to follow the rules, but what happens when we don’t? In Greek mythology Icarus dares to face the sun and as a result fails to follow the rules of flying. Examples of the Icarus tales are Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” and the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. These authors tell the story of boys who pushed the limit which resulted in their deaths. By comparing the two stories, we can see how the plot, character, and message change from story to story and create new meanings over time. Both stories have similar plots set in different eras. Ovid tells the story of Icarus and his father who are imprisoned on an island. The story is set in the Roman age on a remote island. The father creates wings for them
…show more content…
In Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” the author tries to warn the reader to know their limits, and follow instructions or else they will have to face the consequences. While in Harrison Bergeron the author tries to how the reader that true equality is impossible, and to not let the government gain too much power or else bad things could occur. Both stories do have one message in common, Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” shows us what happens when Icarus doesn't follow the rules by writing this “He took his path high. The vicinity of the sun softens the fragrant wax, the chains of the feathers; the waxes melted: he shakes his bare arms and lacking oarage he takes up to no air, and his face shouting his father’s name is swept up in the blue sea, which takes its name for him.” (Lines 72-78) By writing this the author is showing us the consequences of not following his father's warning. In Harrison Bergeron we are told that if you take off your handicaps you will be punished but Harrison decides to make a statement and take off all his handicaps. Again the main character is killed off due to his decision to break the rules. That is a message that both stories have in common. Those are the messages the stories have in common or are different.
In Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” the author tries to warn the reader to know their limits, and follow instructions or else they will have to face the consequences. While in Harrison Bergeron the author tries to how the reader that true equality is impossible, and to not let the government gain too much power or else bad things could occur. Both stories do have one message in common, Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” shows us what happens when Icarus doesn't follow the rules by writing this “He took his path high. The vicinity of the sun softens the fragrant wax, the chains of the feathers; the waxes melted: he shakes his bare arms and lacking oarage he takes up to no air, and his face shouting his father’s name is swept up in the blue sea, which takes its name for him.” (Lines 72-78) By writing this the author is showing us the consequences of not following his father's warning. In Harrison Bergeron we are told that if you take off your handicaps you will be punished but Harrison decides to make a statement and take off all his handicaps. Again the main character is killed off due to his decision to break the rules. That is a message that both stories have in common. Those are the messages the stories have in common or are different.