Harrison Bergeron Essay

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be, this phrase perfectly illustrates the truth in how our actions ultimately define us as human beings. Perception of reality plays an immense role in our society as a result of depending on how people perceive us, we act accordingly in order to conform.

Harrison Bergeron is story for society equality. It is terrible how the government is restricting the abilities of the gifted abilities. Government put restraints on people social security and welfare. The Government is doing a good job in their opinion of setting equality. He has weights put on his body due to his natural strength and athletic ability. “The rest of Harrison’s appearance was Halloween and hardware. Nobody had ever worn heavier handicaps. He had outgrown hindrances faster than the H–G men could think them up” (Vonnegut 1). The Strength of Harrison Bergeron was just indescribable, and it was a shame that the government would not be able to let out the potential of his special ability. Harrison is a rebel that disagrees with the

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” (Helen Keller). An unassisted individual cannot transform an aspect of society. A job as complex as changing the world, essentially is nearly impossible for one person to complete. In history anyone who craved a modification in the world, brought their ideas to the public for support. These dissenters of the past were accomplished in gathering groups of people, to all achieve the same goal. Also managing to carry out the acts of past dissenters, Stokely Carmichael presented his ideas to the public as well. His ambition was to change society for the better. Although he is not recognized for his fearless leadership today, Stokely Carmichael was an influential dissenter because he prompted society to be forceful in their battle for equality.

How would you feel if you could not be yourself? In the short story 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut they have a society where people can not be themselves. The government forces them to put handicaps on themselves to make everyone equal. We shouldn't strive for the society in ‘Harrison Bergeron’; this society is crippling to all people. it does not allow people to be unique and reach their full potential to help society.

The short story “Harrison Bergeron”, was first published in October 1961 issue of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Some other works Kurt Vonnegut has written are, “Player Piano”, “The Sirens of Titan”, “Mother Night”, and “Cats Cradle” are just a few of the novels Vonnegut has written. Kurt Vonnegut has drawn on facts and incidents in his own life in his writings. Kurt’s short stories range from visions of future societies, that are extensions of modern societies. Many of his writings are ones that are science fiction. His work in science fiction includes technology in the human equation. The short story “Harrison Bergeron”, is about a society where everyone is equal and no one is different than another. But one character, Harrison tries

Government control affects lives daily, some more than others. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut are both satirical writings that take place in the future all over the world. In both writings, the government have completely disenfranchised citizens in attempt to create an utopia. Aldous Huxley’s satirical novel Brave New World and Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical short story “Harrison Bergeron” both depict the disenfranchisement and ultimate disabling of citizens by the government in effort to create an “Utopia”.

In “Harrison Bergeron”, Kurt Vonnegut shows that equality is unpleasant by setting the story in the future, by using satire to exaggerate how awful equality is to persuade the reader that they should oppose equality and by using symbols such as handicaps and the media are also used to argue that total equality is undesirable.

In the story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. he teaches us that making everyone equal doesn 't make them any less different because they all have different handicaps for different things, and you can get killed because you 're trying to be different than everyone else. In this story something that goes against my theme for this story would be that be that people 's equalities can be important although not for someone 's own qualities. The theme that would work for this story would just becuase you make everyone equal that doesn’t make them lose their differences.

Can one be viewed as both a hero and a tyrant? In the case of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is difficult to differentiate between a savior of the values of the French Revolution and another absolute ruler of the French people. The Revolution strove to embody enlightenment ideals by establishing representative forms of government and giving the people equal fundamental rights. As the Revolution became radical, corrupt, and chaotic, the people of France turned to Napoleon as a potential leader. His actions as ruler of France preserved several of the enlightenment ideals that sparked and developed from the Revolution. One of his major accomplishment, the Napoleonic Code, succeeded in promoting equality and liberty. Secondly, he created a society where high positions were given to people of talent rather than people of noble birth. Lastly, he spread the Revolution throughout Europe by establishing new policies and constitutions in the countries

With injustice and cruelty running rampant in the world, it is unsurprising that people become determined to make things better for tomorrow. The cliché saying that the ends justify the means is often quoted by those aware of the moral greyness of their actions. Commendable yet unreasonable, leaders whose sole purpose in life is to fix what they see as “wrong” with the world fall prey to thinking there is only ally or enemy. In the long run, they harm those they try to liberate. This is the downfall of leaders in many works of literature, including Harrison Bergeron and The Lord of the Flies. If given power, individuals obsessed with achieving their ideals will revert to an aggressive and uncompromising leadership style unless there is some form of a rival to keep them in check.

Imagine you live in a world where you are punished for being ever so slightly better than average, and anyone who wants to compete with their fellow citizens are handicapped in some way so that no one is superior. What would you do? Would you follow along like a helpless sheep, unable to speak your opinion? Would happiness and joy fill your mind because you’re afraid that everyone would shun you due to your incompetence, or would you fight for your right to be a unique individual who has their own strengths and weaknesses. In the story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, jr., the main character, Harrison, did just that, he fought a corrupt government and tried to release the people from their torturous bonds.

Equality is without question, the overall theme in the “Harrison Bergeron” short story. According to the first paragraph, 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments were made to the American constitution, supposedly allowing for everyone to be “equal in every which way.” Aided by twisted methodology, anyone who was physically or mentally adept whatsoever was equipped with a series of “handicaps.” Ranging from in-ear radios tuned to government stations which send piercing sounds at coordinated times, to sash weights and bags of birdshot purposefully strapped around people’s necks, everyone with a natural advantage ended up being brought down to the level of those who were naturally weaker. So much as being good looking or having a nice voice also led to a series of impediments that, definitely for the worst, put everyone on an equal playing field, which is the ironic satire of total equality.

Imagine a regular twenty-eight year old who is watching the television set with anticipation as anti-gerasone is first introduced. A large majority people would agree that living forever would have positive and beneficial effects; however, Kurt Vonnegut and Ray Bradbury demonstrate some of the clear misconceptions of not only being immortal, but equality and what humanity is doing to themselves. Vonnegut and Bradbury are two of the authors that have formed science fiction into the genre that it is today. In each of the stories, Fahrenheit 451, “The Big Trip Up Yonder”, and “Harrison Bergeron”, humanity has created an unnecessary problem through their thoughts and actions. In fact, almost all of the science fiction genre contains elements

"Harrison Bergeron", a short story written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., tells the story about a society that has finally reached true equality; Everyone is on the same intellectual level. In order to ensure that people do not exceed a certain mental capacity, advanced members of society are given devices designed with the sole purpose of distracting them. The government makes sure that they cannot gain a mental advantage. In the beginning of the story, we learn that Hazel Bergeron 's fourteen year-old son, Harrison, was taken away by the government. "It was tragic, all right, but George and Hazel couldn 't think about it very hard." (Vonnegut 1). Although the tragic event had a severe impact on his life, George is forced to simply accept what happens in his life. He is unable question why events happen. He is simply a product of a