Egalitarianism In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

In the story Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut explores the idea of total equality. His use of irony which is present for the duration of the entire story reveals the concept that equality may not be as good as it seems. The unpredictable ending, surprising situations, and shocking character reactions all serve as illustrations to help convey Vonnegut’s theme.     The society Vonnegut creates is ironic because it is based off the United States-- a place which values freedom-- but in the pursuit of equality, citizens lose their freedom to be themselves. Through the creation of the handicap system above average citizens are required to wear physical and mental handicaps in order to maintain a fair playing field for all.

Diana represents the extremes of equality through her unjust system of government, and Harrison represents the extremes of inequality, individualism, and freedom through a caste system where only the wealthy people will be able to express their selves and have freedom. Both Harrison and Diana’s ideas of equality has corrupt consequences in which Diana’s takes away individuality and Harrison’s takes away equality and freedom. In this story, Vonnegut illustrates that the only society that should exist is one that accepts individuality and lets its citizen be equal without any physical

This can be connected to the predicament of African Americans as common law would direct that all men are made equivalent. An equitable law "is a man-made code that squares with the ethical law or the law of God. "viii Thoreau contends that uncalled for laws exist yet not every single unjustifiable law ought to be battled against. He trusts that "if the foul play is a vital's piece rubbing of the machine of government, let it go… perchance it will wear smooth- - surely the machine will wear out."ix

When America was built, its character and identity was established by The Declaration of Independence, providing its citizens equality, liberty, and equal opportunity. The premise of the composition of USA became known as the American Dream, with the aspiration that one’s achievement is not constrained by his/her social class or fortune but is determined by endeavor. This delusion of harmony was greatly contradicted by two novels: The Crucible and The Grapes of Wrath. In The Crucible, under constant hallucination of evil and corruptness, people for their own greediness began making false accusations on each other.

In “Harrison Bergeron”, Vonnegut uses characterization, symbolism, and figurative language to satirize extreme equality in society. In “Harrison Bergeron,” the author satirizes extreme equality in society by using characterization. Vonnegut teaches the readers by showing them what the future could be like if equality is taken too literally. The government imposed handicaps that make the people in Vonnegut’s story all equal.

Fitzgerald’s novel examines this latter perception as the citizens of this era constituted materialism as their American Dream and the moral corruption that accompanied it (Bewley 27). Fitzgerald uses The Great Gatsby as a means to present the American Dream as a more demoralized, unethical version of its previous self (Bewley 28). The prevailing theory of the 20’s insinuated that if you could obtain a great amount of possessions, you were living the ideal life full of luxury and fortune. In the novel this fixation with materials becomes absurd as people do not even bother to consider the necessity of a certain object, rather enjoy the act of simply purchasing it: “There was a machine in the kitchen which could extract the juice of two hundred oranges in half an hour, if a little button was pressed two hundred times by a butler’s thumb” (Fitzgerald 44). The fact that Gatsby owns an appliance that requires his butler to push a button for some plain orange juice shows how his morals and visions are skewed and amoral.

However, like many great people, their good deeds shadow their bad deeds. The article is a collection of what philosophy was about and also shows the pros and cons of his thoughts of Enlightenment. The body tries to balance the contrasting elements in Voltaire’s philosophy in contrast, source 2 which only focuses on Voltaire’s originality. For example the source (3) mentions how he enlightened many about the feudal system that oppressed them, and how there should be more interest in the people rather than the monarchy.

His interpretation is that America let him down, and led him to believe what wasn’t true. However, his main aspiration is for America to truly be united and free. He believes that America can improve to become the America we claim it to

In the introductory chapter of his book, he wrote “Amongst the novel objects that attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, nothing struck me more forcibly than the general equality of conditions” (de Tocqueville 12). Tocqueville was particularly amaze at the American brand of equality because it did merely exist as a dogma or as a principle, but it was an element of life for the people. Thus, equality existed, according to Tocqueville, on the personal and social level. Today, the reality may be that not all American people are equal, but the equality principle had and has continued to underpin many democratic institutions. The Declaration of Independence, which sets out the foundation of American rights and freedoms, provided that ‘all men are created equal.’

It says that there are too many selfish people that would not help out other Americans. Another quote that follows the same lines as the previous one is “We refused to leave the problems of chance and the hurricanes of disaster”(Hanes and Hanes 59). This quote further explains Roosevelt 's beliefs on there being many selfish Americans, and that Hoover’s ideas relied solely on the chance of generous Americans. Although Roosevelt and Hoover took two WAY different approaches on trying to fix this economic crisis, they did have the same goal in common, to strengthen America.

David Brooks in his New York Times article “The Power of Alturism” states that “the push of selfishness is matched by the pull of empathy and altruism” (Brooks,2016) in the beginning of his article. His thesis makes it very clear that he believes that people become selfish versus selfless when receiving reward for what humans do naturally without reward. Basically people are naturally altruistic without having to be rewarded for acts of selflessness and kindness. Brooks also argues that we should pursue altruism more. He backs this up multiple times in his article by providing examples.

You should also be responsible for being a good person. This isn 't just some off the wall concept either as Samuel Adams said, “A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.” The people of America realized long ago ago honest, honorable, just, truthful society with a love for industry and Godliness and a respect for the law will prosper. If the people are no good than no matter how good a leader, or how well the constitution is written, or how fortuitous we are, our nation is

The Kurt Vonnegut Mentality Kurt Vonnegut is an author that isn’t afraid to question and critique major establishments. Vonnegut question those intentions of religion, whether they are in reality working in good faith or in dehumanizing people and taking away from their ability to grow and have their own opinions. In his works, Vonnegut doesn’t steer clear from examining the pointlessness of warfare, the ability to escape your current reality, religion and the immoral aspects of science. Vonnegut’s short story Harrison Bergeron and his novels, Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat’s Cradle were all works that were inspired and reflected off events in his life. The decline of his mental health, his wife turning to Christianity, the growing political and

Imagine writing a piece of literature with the best intentions, just to have someone else destroy it out of spite. An act similar to this is considered disrespectful and could discourage most to reside from sharing their ideas with society again to prevent further humility. Kurt Vonnegut was a victim to this subjection. After Charles McCarthy, head of the school board at Drake High School, thought it was too corrupt for the education agenda provided to student's, Vonnegut's books were burned in a furnace. Taking this into consideration, Vonnegut responded to this denunciation by writing a letter containing uses of pathos to decry McCarthy’s actions towards his books.