Literary Analysis In the novel Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut he uses a narrator to describe to us the story but not any of characters in the story. We almost have to trust that the narrator is not leading us on a path that is the wrong interpretation on the book because it is his opinion. I am going to explore why possibly Vonnegut using a narrator to tell us the story may have been the best way instead of any of the others character especially the one that the story is named after Harrison Bergeron. Hazel couldn’t have possibly been a candidate because of her being perfectly average would make the story to simple. George could’ve have been a candidate to be the narrator but because of his handicap he was only limited in how
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In the story the narrator tells us on the first page why Hazel and George is already out the picture with both being average. The narrator tells us “Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think about anything except in short bursts. And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear.” (Vonnegut 1) If Hazel and George would have told the story from there point of view it would have fairly simple and everything would be in short burst. The story would be the most complicated thing to read or understand which would leave a lot of room for people to interpreting the story however they see fit. For George particularly we see how his handicaps affect him when he sees Harrison pop up on the tv screen to imply that he has escaped from prison but as soon he tries to come to a thought he is stopped. The narrator tells us “"My God" said George, "that must be Harrison!" (Vonnegut 4). The realization was blasted from his mind instantly by the sound of an automobile collision in his head.” We see hear that George would unreliable at best to give us accurate information for when he comes to try to form a thought it leaves his head almost immediately. If he were to try to narrate it would give the reader probably a headache as well as too much room to fill in the blanks and you would have almost …show more content…
The narrator inadvertently shows us that the reader may not have the same empathy for his struggle or need for change in society. When Harrison says “"I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. "Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!" He stamped his foot and the studio shook.” (Vonnegut 4). This line alone shows that if we really got to look inside his head we may be looking in the head of a tyrant almost like Hitler people may feel for him after reading Mein Kampf but if people got to look inside his mind they may have never even given him the time of day. The narrator even shows us how Harrison views other but all we get is a little taste of it though. Harrison says, “"I shall now select my Empress!" he said, looking down on the cowering people. "Let the first woman who dares rise to her feet claim her mate and her throne!” (Vonnegut 4). We get a look into how he may view people like more a trophy and tokens as he looks at the women more like an objects than a person who you need to love and have a real connection with. In the article The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” written by Darryl Hattenhauer, in a passage it states how Harrison is truly a perfect human being, that we could never hope to be like and how he is not relatable to
In the story the narrator tells us on the first page why Hazel and George is already out the picture with both being average. The narrator tells us “Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think about anything except in short bursts. And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear.” (Vonnegut 1) If Hazel and George would have told the story from there point of view it would have fairly simple and everything would be in short burst. The story would be the most complicated thing to read or understand which would leave a lot of room for people to interpreting the story however they see fit. For George particularly we see how his handicaps affect him when he sees Harrison pop up on the tv screen to imply that he has escaped from prison but as soon he tries to come to a thought he is stopped. The narrator tells us “"My God" said George, "that must be Harrison!" (Vonnegut 4). The realization was blasted from his mind instantly by the sound of an automobile collision in his head.” We see hear that George would unreliable at best to give us accurate information for when he comes to try to form a thought it leaves his head almost immediately. If he were to try to narrate it would give the reader probably a headache as well as too much room to fill in the blanks and you would have almost …show more content…
The narrator inadvertently shows us that the reader may not have the same empathy for his struggle or need for change in society. When Harrison says “"I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. "Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!" He stamped his foot and the studio shook.” (Vonnegut 4). This line alone shows that if we really got to look inside his head we may be looking in the head of a tyrant almost like Hitler people may feel for him after reading Mein Kampf but if people got to look inside his mind they may have never even given him the time of day. The narrator even shows us how Harrison views other but all we get is a little taste of it though. Harrison says, “"I shall now select my Empress!" he said, looking down on the cowering people. "Let the first woman who dares rise to her feet claim her mate and her throne!” (Vonnegut 4). We get a look into how he may view people like more a trophy and tokens as he looks at the women more like an objects than a person who you need to love and have a real connection with. In the article The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” written by Darryl Hattenhauer, in a passage it states how Harrison is truly a perfect human being, that we could never hope to be like and how he is not relatable to