Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. are good examples of what would happen if one law was created to make a thriving utopia, but it turns it into a frightful dystopia. Both stories have one major law that attempts to create a utopia, but turns it into a dystopia. In Fahrenheit 451, the protagonist, Montag, and his friend, Clarisse, talk about how books are illegal in this society. It says “‘Do you ever read any of the books you burn?’ He laughed. ‘That’s against the law!’” (Bradbury). This quote shows that by making books illegal, it can have a drastic change on how a society functions. Even though it’s only one law, it can change a society drastically. Likewise, in “Harrison Bergeron” there is also one
In Vonnegut’s short story Harrison Bergeron and Orwell’s Animal Farm, simplistic diction is utilized to prove inequality. After the sheep finish chanting about how superior two legs are, Clover urges Benjamin to read the last of the commandments. As Benjamin goes up to read the final commandment, it is revealed that the sign has been modified to say that “SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” (40). Illustrating those who oversimplify situations when talking down to others. While George and Hazel are watching television, Hazel notices the vast amounts on handicaps on george.
In the books of 1984 and Harrison Bergeron, they share a common theme for the future. The author’s message from each of these books gives a prophecy in which our society might be headed to a utopian society. In 1984, the book was published in 1949, but George Orwell provides a predictable story of our society becoming “equal” towards one another due to the government. Also, in Harrison Bergeron, the author gives its message by the story taking place in the future of 2081, while right now it 's 2017, to predict that we the people might actually turn this democratic republic government into a more centralized bureaucracy. Although these two books share a common theme, what makes each one of them similar and different towards one another are the literary elements incorporated into the book.
In both stories Fahrenheit 451, and Harrison Bergeron they have similar themes and ideas with mysterious, corrupt societies all about the concept of knowledge, and not letting people have it with stupid reasons. In the stories, it is all about being born into communist type countries, who really like rules as well as limits on stupid things held by the governments such as in Fahrenheit 451 it is reading books, because the ideas upset you, and in Harrison Bergeron it is just the traits of being smart, ugly, just equality in general is not acceptable because they want people to be mis-uninformed about everything because of amendment #211, and #212 which is equality all in the same way One similarity is when Guy Montag meets all of the homeless on page143 it says "Welcome back from the dead." Montag nodded. Granger went on.
Dystopia is an unperfect place that seems perfect because people are being ruled and controlled. Winston Smith is a member of the Outer party and he works in the Ministry of Truth. Winston is trying to escape Big Brother, at least in his own world but he got caught and eventually became what Big Brother wants in the novel “1984”.. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron” where every person is somehow forced to be equal and the government is absolute right and no one dare question it. In “The Matrix” it’s a mixture of both where the protagonist is forced from the very beginning to accept the reality that’s not his own, but what it used to be.
Many people in 2081 believe that Harrison’s ability will be more powerful and better than others. He is literally weighed down by so many things from being himself. The Handicapper General placed gadgets to keep him normal like the rest. That caused many people the be afraid of him. Harrison Bergeron is a not a threat to society; he is a hero.
Harrison Bergeron is a short story and film, 2081, that tells about a man who lives in a world where everyone is equal. Due to the 211, 212, and 213 amendment, everyone stong wears weights, everyone who is smart wears an earpiece, and everyone beautiful wears a mask. The film and story are similar and different in many ways. There are different descriptions of characters and different dialogue. The are similar in ways such as the image of Harrison and the death of Harrison.
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.
Both Fahrenheit 451 and Harrison Bergeron show us that the censorship of knowledge and thoughts has a negative impact on individuals and society. However Fahrenheit 451 emphasizes more How society gets antisocial without books. While Harrison Bergeron targets more the negative effects of no competition. Both Fahrenheit 451 and Harrison Bergeron show us that the
Laws are the key to having a well-mannered society. They are created with the intention of bringing good to the civilization. However, even actions with good intentions can end with devastating results. This is what occurs in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron”. “Harrison Bergeron” is about a dystopian- like future that has had citizens stripped of their individuality due to an Amendment.
In the short stories “The Dead Men’s Path” by Chinua Achebe and “Harrison Bergeron” by Vonnegut share many similar qualities yet differences between each other. A similarity between “The Dead Men’s Path” and “Harrison Begeron” is that the author’s both use conflict to develop the theme of the story. Micheal Obi, the main character from “The Dead Men’s Path”, is a young man who hopes to turn Ndume Central School into a more modern place. Filled with many ideas, Micheal along with his wife, Nancy, plan to renovate and modernize the school. One evening, as Micheal admires his garden, he soon realizes it is an almost disused path.
We live our lives in fear. Some of us fear failure, maybe you fear the dark, others fear heights. While some of humanities fears may be irrational, there is no denying that everyone experiences fear. But how does fear affect us? How does it affect our actions?
The two stories, “Harrison Bergeron” and Fahrenheit 451, both have common themes. The common themes of the stories may include; our reliance on technology can spiral out of control if we let it, knowledge is joyful and painful, and that we can be confined by our own self-censorship. All of these themes are exhibited throughout both stories frequently. Whether it is as Montag has conflict with his wife over books or as Harrison’s parents forget right from wrong in their society. In Fahrenheit 451, their technology definitely gets out of control.
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.
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.
Analysis Essay on “Harrison Bergeron” The author of “Harrison Bergeron” is Kurt Vonnegut. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 11, 1922. Vonnegut is well known for his satirical literary style, as well as the science-fiction elements in much of his work. He first published “Harrison Bergeron” in October 1961.