Compare and contrast Harrison Bergeron The 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments have been written, and it seems the world has finally become what people call “equal” nowadays in 2081. This isn’t bad for some people but these so-called handicaps to keep people equal aren’t good for everyone. Both the text “Harrison Bergeron”, and the film are similar in events but there are a few differences in the situations, plot, and characters. One main difference that was evident is a character in the text “Harrison Bergeron”, that was represented as blindingly beautiful.
Likewise, to be handicapped is to be special, but for Harrison to be seen as under handicapped is that he is underestimated for his true”dangers’ and what he is truly capable of. His transgression is also unique and rare to a society of all equalism and therefore is also restrained by the government to reach his true potential. Both Equality and Harrison are known for having transgressions too powerful and dangerous in their societies. Their transgressions limit them to succeed and reach their true potential, but how they react to their transgressions is what makes them truly
To sum up what is happening in this scene, Harrison is taking off of his handicaps and becoming the natural monster he is. Doing this he immediately begins to seek power and take charge to rule everyone. By Harrison doing this the author proves his point by showing that everyone may not like the handicaps but it keeps everything peaceful and in order. This is tradition and Harrison is an example of what this tradition
He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous.’ (...) The picture showed the full length of of Harrison against a background
“Not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well” (p. 4, para. 19). This statement by Kurt Vonnegut, the author of the story “Harrison Bergeron”, depicts Harrison Bergeron, the protagonist of the story who was at loggerheads with the government. The story is about a society that is thought to be perfect and reigns of equality (p. 1, para. 1). The main character is Harrison Bergeron, son of George and Hazel Bergeron. Harrison got arrested on the allegations that he wanted to overthrow the government, but in spite of these radical actions, he should be regarded as a hero because of his courage to stand up for himself and the society.
Thematically, though, the common theme of the danger of equality plays out differently in each version. In the movie, there is more focus upon Harrison and how he affects the setting, while the story focuses on Harrison’s parents and how the setting affects them. For example, in the film, at (7:41), we are first shown the physical appearance of Harrison Bergeron. Unlike the story, he is about twenty-six years old and he is free of any facial handicaps. In fact, his character strongly resembles that of Jesus Christ, and he even bears a yoke.
Harrison Bergeron teaches the readers many different lessons through the many themes that occur in the story. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. represents how equality can be dangerous if it is applied to human qualities like intelligence or beauty. One example of Harrison Bergeron showing that equality is dangerous is, “Harrison smashed his headphones and spectacles against the wall.” This is an example of equality being dangerous because Harrison became very scary once he got all of his handicaps off and it was all because he was being deprived of his true intelligence and beauty. A second example is, “Harrison’s scrap-iron handicaps crashed to the floor.”
Throughout “Harrison Bergeron”, Vonnegut describes handicaps that the government has forced people to wear to achieve ultimate equality throughout the society. This forced equality promotes violence because someone has to make sure the people are wearing their handicaps. If anyone goes against the government, they will get killed, just as Harrison did. For example, Vonnegut writes: “George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times.
It would take a lot of bravery or stupidity to go on national television and announce himself the new ruler of the country, but Harrison did it to try to restore humanity. “ ‘ Even as I stand here’ he bellowed, ‘ crippled, hobbled, sickened-I am a greater ruler than any man who has ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!’ ” The reasons why he did this are clear; benefit the civilians, restore a natural society, and give the people the right to be individual. “Harrison Bergeron” is a perfect example of a dystopian society where the idea of equality is taken too far to create an exemplary civilization.
In science fiction books there is at least a couple things with a society and they seem to have no freedom and the government is controlling what all the people are doing. In the giver there is a boy named Jonas who living a world under a community and gets selected for the receiver of memory and he learns a lot about his community and how it is not very fair to all people. In Harrison Bergeron people wear these handicaps and they are forced to wear them, the government requires it, so there is no difference in people for being smart, so Harrison was escaping he handicaps to show people in his world how unfair it is. Jonas was living a life under a speaker, bikes, and the threat of being released. One day the ceremony of 12 happened and
No one can be above another. Harrison shows individuality by breaking out of prison, taking off his handicaps, and defying the government. In the story Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. uses the protagonist, Harrison, and his actions to convey the importance of individuality to readers’.
Another reason is that Harrison rebels by removing his handicaps. By removing his handicaps, Harrison was making it easier for people in the auditorium fear him. Harrison was even able to escape prison. The quotation, "...has just escaped jail, where he was held on
He knows that he is different from the others. His exceptional intelligence helps him see the government has covered all forms of uniqueness. Vonnegut has created a reality with total equality. Harrison believes he is better than the government; stronger, faster, smarter, more powerful. He uses his advantages to break the laws of society, taking off all the things that make him as well as a ballerina equal to others.
In Harrison’s society, what everyone wants, is mistaken. People do not need limitations, to be “equal”. They are meeting equality, but maybe they should try meeting equity. If that happened to the world right now, everyone would not be above, they would be meeting every low traits. If everyone was meeting every low trait, then no one would compete with each other, they would just be the same.
They claimed he was way too strong smart and way too unequal. In the text it says “Harrison was just thrown in jail for plotting to overthrow the government he is a genius and an athlete he is under handicapped and should be regarded as extremely dangerous” The government interrupted the tv show which was a ballet play to put an announcement that he escaped and this is the description they used. Harrison was just trying to end what the government was doing because they were overpowered but they described him with such harsh descriptions. Harrison interrupts the play and shows up on the screen shortly after the announcement.