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How Is Harrison Bergeron Controlled

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Government Control Taken To Communism How far can the government push power before they must be stopped? Government control can be taken too far in some cases. In Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” he portrays this in a dystopian society. “Harrison Bergeron” tells a story of a society weighed down by “handicaps” to give the illusion of equality. The story follows the lives of George and Hazel Bergeron from an outside perspective as they go through an average day wearing the government enforced handicaps. In this society the government rules all aspects of a citizen’s life including but not limited to media, thoughts, actions, and looks. The theme effectively portrays that when the government takes drastic measures cruel things …show more content…

In this society parents can not protect their children at all. Harrison, a fourteen year old, has multiple physical and mental restraints forcibly placed on to his body by the government and placed into jail because of his lack of compliance (Vonnegut 233). The government nonconsensually restrained a minor and placed him into an adult holding cell. Parents across the world would be horrified if this were to happen to their child, however because Harrison’s parents have handicaps they can not remember or do anything about the mistreatment of their child. Most parents agree to draw the line when it comes to government interference with their children's daily …show more content…

In “Harrison Bergeron” the death penalty is used for a fourteen year old boy simply trying to be himself. Harrison escapes jail and attempts to live life without any handicaps; however , the government puts a stop to these thoughts by killing him (Vonnegut 235). The government kills a child to protect itself from possible retaliation. Some may view this as a government protecting itself from a person trying to tear down its morals and beliefs and stop an act of treason, however in this case Harrison was trying to protect himself against a communistic government. This is a case of man versus nature because the government wants to rebel against the natural inequality of life. It is human nature to seek competition and thrive on inequality. The government does not want what is best for its citizens, it simply wants what is best for itself whether it’s cruel or

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