ipl-logo

Dystopia In Harrison Bergeron

528 Words3 Pages

Is Harrison’s world a utopia or a dystopia? In the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut there is a world with many different rules than we have. Everybody were equal and nobody was better than anybody else. The 211th, 212th, and the 213th Amendments to the Constitution were to be followed. The United States Handicapper General controlled them. Harrison’s world is a Dystopia, a theme in the short story. Their looks, personalities, and everything else were the same in Harrison’s world and they did not have another choice.George (Harrison’s son) has a higher intelligence than others so he was force by law to wear a mental handicap radio on his ear to mess up his brain from taking advantage. When watching the ballerinas, George thoughts fled from the buzzer in his head coming from the earpiece. “I don't care if you’re not equal to me for a while” said Hazel, After telling George to rest his handicap bag on the pillow and stretch on the sofa. 47 pounds of birdshot in the bag around George neck to keep him equal. …show more content…

Harrison, Tall and athletic had to shave his eyebrows and wear a rubber nose to make him unattractive. He was also tall so they added a heavy handicap bag to make him slouch so he won't be so tall. “If everything’s the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things” a quote from The Giver by Lois Lowry. The Giver is dystopia world also because they are under bad rules. Their memories and feelings were controlled and they had the ability to see color taken away. “Life here is orderly, so predictable-so painless. It’s what they’ve chosen”. Without their memories they aren't as wise and didn't see reality. In Harrison Bergeron everybody is the same and couldn't be different. Harrison Bergeron and The Giver were ruled by a person where rules don't apply to the ruler. They are both a Dystopia, a theme from the short

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between Harrison Bergeron And The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

    998 Words  | 4 Pages

    To begin with, both "Harrison Bergeron" and "The Lottery" portray blind conformities through the use of harsh methods to keep order with society. In the story "Harrison Bergeron", the character Harrison, a 14 year old child, was depicted to be better superior than others and for this reason was given hundreds of pounds of extra weight to his body in order to keep him equal to everyone else, " In the race of life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds" (Vonnegut 2). Society believed that there should be a law that suppresses Harrison as this would make it fair for everyone. Harrison, like all other members of the society, was not allowed to take off any of the handicaps given or they would pay the consequences of, "Two years in prison and two thousand

    Read More

  • Theme Of Dystopian Societies In Harrison Bergeron And Anthem

    756 Words  | 4 Pages

    A utopian society is a society in which everything is perfect and people get to do what they please, when they please. They get to pick how they live their lives, how they determine their mates, and how they choose their occupations. The stories “Harrison Bergeron” and Anthem show that this utopian world can’t be achieved. In fact, in both, the societies are actually dystopian. Clearly, there are many similarities in the themes of Anthem by Ayn Rand and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Pacifism Essay

    1040 Words  | 5 Pages

    Kurt Vonnegut expresses the theme of pacifism by using humor to depict equality in a negative light. Kurt Vonnegut expresses the theme of pacifism by using humor to depict equality in a negative light by showing the inability to resist using violent means. In “Harrison Bergeron”, a short story about George and Hazel Bergeron who live in a fictional America in the year 2081. Everyone in this short story is suppressed by the government, which is trying to make every citizen completely equal. In the story, Harrison Bergeron realizes what the government is doing to the people around him and he tries to stop it.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Research Paper

    517 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today’s society the general attitude towards an individual is conform or be an outcast. It is seen in schools where people who do not fit into specific cliques become outcasts, the weird people. It is seen in the work place as well. People have conformed to standards set by society simply because society has said to do so. Society asks people to change themselves to fit in.

    Read More

  • Use Of Imagery In Harrison Bergeron

    557 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his short story Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut uses an astounding amount of powerful imagery and diction to create the perfect scenes of the dystopian reality he creates. Throughout his use of imagery, Vonnegut creates scenes palpably imagined by readers. He uses underlying humor to lighten scenes of the morbid and macabre nature of the future where being different can be a death sentence. The future that is created in totality by Vonnegut is a dire scene created to be filled with a pastiche of people strung with handicaps to make them to be exactly the same as the “perfectly average citizen.” Vonnegut’s tone throughout is both dreary towards the bizarre and twisted dystopia that makes everyone equal, but is also somewhat insulting to those who do not bear handicaps due to being lacking both mentally and physically.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Literary Analysis Essay

    923 Words  | 4 Pages

    One common afternoon in the year of 2081, when everyone was equal, Hazel and George Bergeron were in their lovely living room watching television. Suddenly, a news reporter with a severe speech impediment came on. After trying many times to say, “Good morning ladies and gentlemen,” he handed it off to a ballerina who read, “Harrison Bergeron, age 14, has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous.” However, in this short story “Harrison Bergeron”, Kurt Vonnegut uses irony, shift and mood, and allusion to illustrated haw society would be if everyone was under the law of equality.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Theme Essay

    1055 Words  | 5 Pages

    The people that were trying to make the world a better place did the exact opposite of that. The theme of this short story would be that absolute power corrupts all; even the people who were trying to do good. This is a good theme for “Harrison Bergeron” since both the government and Harrison had been corrupted while trying to make the world

    Read More

  • Conformity In Ponies And Harrison Bergeron

    768 Words  | 4 Pages

    On the other hand, "Harrison Bergeron" portrays the detrimental effects of conformity. The story follows the character Harrison, who rebels against the handicapping system in an act of defiance. His actions reveal the oppressive nature of conformity and the inherent desire for personal expression. The story concludes tragically with Harrison being killed by the government, highlighting the consequences of challenging societal expectations. Unlike "Ponies," "Harrison Bergeron" emphasizes the negative impact of conformity on individuals and the suppression of personal

    Read More

  • People Are Not Truly Equal In Harrison Bergeron

    302 Words  | 2 Pages

    If the entire world was the same, including the ballerinas, they wouldn’t be compelled to wear handicap bags. Handicap are bags that are full of lead balls that weigh as much as your equality. As stated by the author of “Harrison Bergeron”, “Go on and rest the bag for a little while,”she stated. “I don’t care if you’re not equal to me for a while.” This statement demonstrates that everyone was not always equal.

    Read More

  • Satire In Harrison Bergeron

    589 Words  | 3 Pages

    The people of the United States fight and strive for an absolute “equal” society, but is it what’s really wanted? “Harrison Bergeron,” a short story written by Kurt Vonnegut, uses satire to describe the deficiency in our idea of a truly “equal” society. Throughout the story, Vonnegut describes the torture and discomfort the government administers among the people, and though they were “equal,” they were not balanced. Vonnegut uses characterization and word choice to warn his readers of the potential drawbacks of a truly “equal” society. He warns normalcy would become the base of thought, and people would become incapable of emotion.

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis On Harrison Bergeron

    1735 Words  | 7 Pages

    Harrison Bergeron, a story written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, shows a society where everyone is the same, no one is- or allowed to be, better than anyone else. The story takes place in a futuristic society during 2081. The main two people in this story are Hazel and George Bergeron. George, along with most people, has sacks filled with birdshot, and a handicap radio.

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron

    1823 Words  | 8 Pages

    People who are not equal get handicapped in a way. George and Hazel Bergeron are the parents of Harrison, who was taken away from them when he was fourteen by the Handicapper General. George and Hazel are not even sad that their son was taken away. Hazel has average intelligence so she can only think of things in short bursts. On the other

    Read More

  • What Is The Cost Of Equality In Harrison Bergeron

    519 Words  | 3 Pages

    The story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is about a couple, Hazel and George Bergeron, in the distant future when all people must be equal. This equality is reached in the form of handicaps. Weights are placed on the strong and athletic people in society, masks are forced upon the beautiful, and loud noises are constantly blasted into the ears of the intelligent to prevent them from thinking. While most equality is often thought of as good, the story shows a much darker side, using the government’s forceful equalization of the people. “Harrison Bergeron” uses multiple perspectives to highlight the costs of equality paralleled in today’s society.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Harrison Bergeron

    870 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thesis: In Kurt Vonnegut 's story, "Harrison Bergeron," symbolism, tone, and irony reveal the author 's message to the reader which is his perspective on equality. Notably, there are countless symbols in the narrative "Harrison Bergeron" all of which trace back to the theme of the story. The handicaps people are forced to wear are symbols for the control the government has over people. "George was toying with the vague notion that maybe dancers shouldn 't be handicapped.

    Read More

  • What Is Harrison Bergeron Character Analysis Essay

    544 Words  | 3 Pages

    The character Harrison, in the story “Harrison Bergeron” written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, has many traits that help aide the theme of the story. Harrison was a strong, good looking, determined young individual with a goal to be different than everyone else. To begin with, Harrison is a good looking 14 year old that is 7ft tall with big goals in life. Harrison is one that was made handicapped by the Handicapper General because he is better than the others.

    Read More

More about Dystopia In Harrison Bergeron

Open Document