Harrison Bergeron

“We must be careful about what we pretend to be” as we learn in Harrison Bergeron a society where its forbidden to be yourself leading to adverse consequences. The quote by Kurt Vonnegut means that sometimes in life people don’t always want to express their genuine identity because they consider people wont enjoy that real version so they conceal by acting like other people. From my own life experiences I found that doing this leads to misfortune and lack of development. It is frequently the…

the thought police. In “Harrison Bergeron” the citizens’ thoughts are controlled and maintained by the government as well. In contrast to these two stories, The Purge: Anarchy is a dystopian movie that takes place in…

Harrison Bergeron is a representation of the American people who stand out and constantly outdo the average person. Although, in this short story, Harrison is a specimen that has been locked up in prison because of his brandish characteristics. He is seven feet tall, excessively strong, and remarkably handsome. In the society he lives is, his abnormal trademarks are considered illegal and he is forced by the government to wear large earphones that alter his thinking, glasses that disallow him…

benefit society? Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron succeeds in addressing this question and exposes the consequences of complete equality. His short story takes place in an egalitarian society where the government handicaps anyone who is naturally above average to achieve equality amongst all citizens. The text follows a man with above average IQ and an intellectual handicap named George Bergeron who lives with his average wife, Hazel. The two have a son, Harrison,…

The idea of having equal rights is strongly sought after in all cultures. “Harrison Bergeron” is a short story about an alternative future where all members of the dystopian society are physically and mentally handicapped in order to make every member equal. Similarly, in today’s society we try to force equality through the Affirmative Action Plan and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. While the establishment of equality is seen as beneficial to many members of society, it can…

Harrison Bergeron In Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut writes a short story about an american dystopia of the future. This short story is a satire and work of black humor. His tone throughout the story is sarcastic and sardonic and he also displays a dry witty sense of humor he adopts the same tone throughout the story even though he is talking about a dangerous and worrying situation. He uses satire to point out the absurdity of a society where everything is controlled, “The year was 2081 and…

competition or drama as everyone will be the identical. In the story “Totem”, Thomas King uses totem poles as symbols to represent a scenario in which a certain culture group is isolated from society. On the other hand, Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” uses an image of “Harrison smashing his headphones and spectacles against the wall”, to deliver a message stating that equality is not necessarily a favorable thing. The symbolic monumental sculptures of totem poles in “Totem”, coming to…

Ever since we were babies, we were told to follow the rules. . But if the rules are corrupt, should we truly do as we are told?. The poem “Metamorphoses” by Ovid, as well as the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut both address this topic Emphasizing the themes of following the rules, pushing the boundaries, and striving to be different are also all addressed. By comparing these two literary works, we are shown how the plot, character traits, and the messages differ between the…

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…

Harrison Bergeron In the short story, Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Harrison stood up for what he believed. Similarly to Harrison, a couple of people I know felt they needed to stand up for what they believed in. Many people don’t stand up for what they believe in because of fear. While everyone else was afraid to rebel and stand up for what they thought was right, Harrison, who was just fourteen years old, was able to escape from jail. Although people feared him, his intentions…