Similarities Between The Lottery And Harrison Bergeron

What do going out to eat at the same restaurant every saturday at the same time, going to a specific family member’s house over the holidays every year, and always staying up to watch the ball drop on New Year’s all have in common? They are all traditions. People have many mixed opinions on traditions in general. Nowadays authors often use fictional stories to convey their opinions on traditions. There are many ancient traditions that our society practices today. Sometimes we don’t even know what the tradition is about because it is so old but we practice it anyways. Both Harrison Bergeron and The Lottery have different themes, but they are about the same topic. They are both about tradition. The authors use these fictional stories to help convey their point of view. In Harrison Bergeron the author, Kurt Vonnegut, shows that he feels tradition is right and society should follow

He does this by writing the story about that he feels most traditions are right because they are just traditions, no matter how bad it is society should follow it. The author helps convey their point by using the scene when Harrison breaks into the studio. "I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. "Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!" He stamped his foot and the studio shook. "Even as I stand here" he bellowed, "crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!" (Vonnegut 43). 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