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The story of Harrison Bergeron is enticingly different than any other. It opened my mind to new
ideas and changed the way I think about issues and situations. In the movie and short story,
"Harrison Bergeron," the characters live in a much different world than the one we live in. In
Harrison Bergeron, the American government was overthrown for the purpose of removing
competition. This means everybody is now paid the same, their grades need to be average, but most
importantly, they are required to wear bands on their heads that protect them from thinking
creatively. These kinds of ideas, ones that go outside of the norm, conflict the government. Despite
this, Harrison Bergeron excels in all his classes and begins to question his everyday life. Eventually
he learns that the people that work for the government don't wear bands and are allowed to
compete freely. After hearing real, divine music and seeing dazzling art, he realizes that the people
living in America are missing competition as an imperative part of their lives. As a result, he tries to
disrupt their boring cycle of being by broadcasting the music and art on television, prompting people
to take off their bands. The reason this matters is that as throughout the story, Harrison seems to be
the only person rebelling. This is because people typically want to choose whatever's convenient to
them, and they never want to leave their comfort–zone if it means their world could change. So my
question is this: Why is Harrison
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Outline For Harrison Bergeron
The story "Harrison Bergeron" is about a society in the future where people with beauty, strength,
or intelligence are given handicaps in order to decrease these abilities they were born with so they
are able to be brought down to a level that would make everyone equal to each other. Due to this, one
Harrison Bergeron stood against the government by removing his handicaps as to regain his
freedom from them, all while being watched on television by George and Hazel Bergeron. The book
"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegutis a story that teaches readers that you should never let
anyone take away your freedom from you.
One example of when you can that freedoms shouldn't be taken away in this story is on page 2.
During this scene, Hazel suggests that George takes his handicaps off, but he responds by telling
her that he has become used to them, and they've become a part of him. Although he says they no
longer bother him, Hazel also mentioned to George "all of a sudden you look so tired." This shows
that even though the people being affected were subliminal to it, they were having their freedoms
taken away from them. Also, having their freedoms taken away from them, even without realizing,
was taking a negative toll on the people in this story....show more content...
During this part of the story, Harrison Bergeron and his "empress" took off all of their handicaps as
to assert their independence. Once these handicaps had been removed, they each defied the laws of
motion and gravity and were able to leap all the way to the ceiling. This is an example of how the
story shows the theme of "you shouldn't let others take away your freedom" because, without the
handicaps that inhibited them, Harrison Bergeron and his "empress" were limitless. Their abilities
without the handicaps show that without others holding you back, you have illimitable
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Essay on Harrison Bergeron
Harrison Bergeron, projected on a stage representing the conformity of a society with a system of
Government based on equality for the weak, which are monitored and controlled by a dictatorial
Government. This story is a literary sample that gives us a system of Government, where the law
was created with the intention of limiting the individuals and turning them into beings with
actuation equality, controlling them through the transmitters or obstacles in their body for that
people could not exercise freely their natural abilities and any kind of right view. According to
Jose Alvarez," if all was equal in every purpose, various obstacles would not be required "A
Government limited for the weak, in a society where the...show more content...
(Law and Society, 2007, p.51) Vonnegut gives us a sample of the lack of freedom, calling to
American society to preserve freedom and respect for civil rights, allowing that all the benefits of a
system of Government are not only of those who have the power.
Harrison Bergeron 3 As a point of comparison of this scenario and the America today, we could cite
the implementation of laws which are only thinking about in the interests of a particular group of
society, as it was the recent Ordinance of not smoking in public areas, that helps a group of
non–smokers, but restricting law through legal action of another group that are smokers, removing
the right to do freely what they want. This history reflects a society , where involves the legal system
to exert punishments against anyone that disclosing capacity that could affect on the Government, a
judicial system that is within the parameters of equality projected in this story, which deprives the
citizen the right to defend itself against accusations of a controller and authoritarian Government.
Vonnegut let view to us, that without civil rights, the culture values are mediocre to the point that
the people accept oppressive measures in the name of the law. The lives of the American society is
concentrated on working to live and spend money, under a capitalist system that are
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Harrison Bergeron Summary
The story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is about a couple in the year 2081. In 2081 the
government wants everyone to be equal so they hand out handicaps to people with good looks,
vision, strength, brains, and other talents. The couple, Hazel and George Bergeron, are watching
dancers on tv when an announcer comes on. He says a person named Harrison Bergeron has escaped
prison. Then they hear a thud and see a figure matching Harrison's description at the door. He
goes up to the stage, rips off his handicaps, and asks one of the dancers to volunteer to be his
Empress. When one comes up he takes off her handicaps and they begin to dance. They start to
float till they kiss the ceiling. The doors burst open and in walks the Handicapper General. She
pulls out a gun and shoots them both. I'm going to prove that the setting of this story needs more
detail and that the characters, specifically Harrison and Hazel Bergeron, have nice subtle
backstories. "The year was 2081 and everyone was finally equal," (pg 1). All we know about time
and place is in that sentence. We know the year, but we learn more about the times later in the story.
Well, the times as in society at that time. "Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant
she couldn't think about anything except...show more content...
I have also shown that Harrison and Hazel Bergeron have amazing backstories. The story tells you
about the people, a dark world with no uniqueness and a brainwashed society, and that the year is
2081 but it doesn't mention a physical location. I reminded you Harrison is still a child and any
of his behavior that could be considered rude is just his fit of sadness and rage from a childhood
of suppression. Hazel had her child taken away from her when all she wanted to do was help those
closest to her. That's enough to crush anyone. This story is a family who got caught in the midst of a
government
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Harrison Bergeron
Harrison Bergeron
"If I tried to get away with it, then other people'd get away with itВ—and soon we'd be right back to
the dark ages againВ…" This statement by George Bergeron sums up Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s short story
"Harrison Bergeron" in one line. "Harrison Bergeron" is the story of a futuristic United States in the
year 2081, where all individuals are made equal regardless of what their natural born characteristics
were. They are made equal both mentally and physically, all to the same measure of intelligence and
strength. In "Harrison Bergeron" the society has become apathetic and equally conformed because
of the power of the Handicapper General, the forced use of handicaps, and the people within the
society who continued to let...show more content...
By allowing the government to pass over 200 amendments to the constitution they are tolerating
their lives being run for them. Without voting against these amendments or trying to repeal them
they have gotten to a point where there is now nothing they can do to go back and change things.
"They were equal in every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better
looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else." These were the
laws that were passed in the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the "Constitution." As of now,
in 2005, our society has 27 Amendments. To think of having over 200 is unfathomable. The
society is apathetic and content with being "average." They don't revolt or vote against these
injustices, they accept them. "Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the
musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on." It is obvious that
the people can remove their handicaps, they do have control over them, but they choose not to,
even in private. Hazel tries to get George to take out a few of the "lead balls" because he has been
"so tired lately В– kind of wore out." Yet, he won't he has been programmed to obey the law by any
means. By not taking off the handicaps, the society and the people in it have perpetuated the actions
taken by the government and those in charge. The story "Harrison Bergeron," though fictional and
futuristic, is a great portrayal of what life could
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Harrison Bergeron Essay Theme
Harrison Bergeron Essay The year is 2081, and Harrison Bergeron is a boy living in a society
where all the people must be equal. The government is brainwashing everyone to believe that's true,
but Harrison sees what's really happening. He is one of the smartest people in the society, but that's
what gets him into trouble. Because he is so smart the government believes he wants to overthrow
them. They take him away from home and put him in jail.
The theme I pulled out of this story is one that we hear a lot. People want to be treated equally. But
in this story the government forces them to be. They have to wear headbands that control their
thoughts and buzz loudly every 20 seconds. Good–looking people have to wear masks to hide their
...show more content...
He is also wearing a huge set of earphones, thick glasses, a red rubber nose, and a lot of metal junk.
He has seen the TV show with the ballerinas, too, and he is angry. All he wants is to go back to his
home and family and live a normal life. He doesn't want to live with things the way they are. He
knows that people are individuals and will risk everything to make them understand.
The ballerina warns people that Harrison is dangerous just as people who are still watching TV hear
a loud crash and the screech of a door being torn off its hinges. There is no longer a picture, there is
a live Harrison Bergeron. The dancers, the announcer, the musicians, and the TV crew are scared.
"I am the emperor!" Harrison shouts. "Everybody must do what I say!" He says that even with all
the handicaps he is the greatest ruler that has ever lived, and just watch what he can become. He
removes the weights and the disguise and throws them down.
"I shall now select my Empress!" he shouts again, and says that the first woman who stands up
will claim her mate and her throne. Slowly, one of the dancers gets up. Harrison gently removes
her mask and her weights. She is beautiful. He calls for music, and the musicians go back to their
seats, remove their weights and disguises, and begin to play. Harrison and his empress feel happy
and free. They twirl around and begin to rise up toward the ceiling. They kiss the ceiling, and then
they kiss each
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Essay On Harrison Bergeron
The story "Harrison Bergeron" written by Kurt VOnnegut Jr. explores the idea of a perfect society. A
life where you are completely oppressed to be like everyone else. A young boy known as Harrison
Bergeron seeks to have change in society and for everyone to be free.
Harrison showed the idea of being free would bring harm to everyone and that is what he did he did
not present himself as being a hero but being dangerous to everyone against him. Harrison Bergeron
was just like everyone living according to the rules of society when one day it changed. Bergeron
no longer wanted to be restrained or held back and decided to take matters into his own hands. As
announced, "...has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow
the government...and should be regarded as extremely...show more content...
Everyone was forced to follow rules and he just wanted everyone to be free. As it explains, "The
were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking
than anybody." () Harrison did not like that and wanted change. He planned to show what they
could really do if they were free he showed it. As it states, "And then, in an explosion of joy and
grace, into the air they sprang! Not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the laws of
motion as well. Bergeron did what he wanted to show the people the right way to be living. Harrison
Bergeron was a hero to society by showing them the benefits of being free in life. The society they
lived in was made to keep everyone equal no one could be better than anyone in any way. Harrison
Bergeron tried to be a hero but failed letting anger control his gree. Harrison could also be seen as a
hero to guide people to see the good in freedom. Harrison wan a danger to society by misguiding the
idea of freedom and showing a sense of fear of a different
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Harrison Bergeron Literary Analysis
Picture a society, far in the future, where everyone, by government control, must be on the same
level. Would this be Hell or a utopia? This is the subject of Kurt Vonnegut's short story, "Harrison
Bergeron". In this society, the gifted, strong, and beautiful are required to wear multiple handicaps
of earphones, heavy weights, and hideous masks. In turn, these constraints leave the world equal, or
arguably devoid of, from brains to brawn to beauty. With the constant push for equality among all
people, Vonnegut reveals a world that society is diligently working toward. "Harrison Bergeron" is
written as a form of satire with heavy irony, to demonstrate the clear difference between equity and
equality in society. "Harrison Bergeron" is...show more content...
Beauty is seen as an unfair attribute so it is countered by beautiful people being required to wear
ugly masks. This is an example of the satirical nature of the story because it is still obvious to tell
who is beautiful and who is not since the more beautiful, the uglier the mask. This is evidenced
during the scene where Hazel and George are watching the ballet. In reference to one of the
ballerinas, "She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous"
Vonnegut wrote this story in the midst of 1961, during the Cold War and at the beginning of the
anti–establishment 60s. Knowing the historical significance of this time period offers context.
This provides insight into the thought processes and emotions behind creating the story, or what
it could be written as a response to. Once analyzed, it is clear to see that it is filled with various
social and political critiques of 1960s America. It's safe to say that he aimed to shed some light
onto what might happen if America followed in the footsteps of communist ideals like the Soviet
Union's USSR during the 1950s and 1960s. This connects back to the conflict of equality vs. equity
because communism was created in to represent true "equality" of citizens. The goal was to make
input and output the same for everyone. Harrison Bergeron is a satirical take on the principles of
communism. The author
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Characters In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron
Characters in "Harrison Bergeron" are sedated, governed, and intimidated through television. The
entire story takes place with George and Hazel sitting in front of their TV. Vonnegut illustrates to the
readers how television "freezes" the characters mind in his opening lines. "George and Hazel were
watching television. There were tears on Hazel's cheeks, but she'd forgotten for the moment what
they were about" (Vonnegut 227). Hazel starts to cry but the ballerinas dancing on the screen
make her overlook why she is crying. The government also uses television as a medium of
enforcing regulations. When Harrison escapes jail the government announces an alert of his escape.
They provided a picture of him covered up in his "handicaps". His good looks were disfigured, ". . .
required that he wear at all times a red rubber ball for a nose, keep his eyebrows shaved off, and
cover his white teeth with black caps at snaggle–tooth random," and his strength was dissipated with
"scrap[s] of metal" hanging on top of him (Vonnegut 228–229). The photo is a way to intimated
viewers, giving...show more content...
At the beginning of the story George heard a buzzer while watching the ballerinas dance. While he
was thinking about the idea of the dancers not being handicapped, the sound of a milk bottle being
shattered by a hammer reverberated in his ears. When George began to think about his son,
twenty–one guns firing interrupted is train of thought. The noise left George "white and
trembling, and tears stood on the rims of his red eyes" (Vonnegut 227). As Hazel and George talk
about the laws of equality and how society use to be in "dark ages," sirens start to go off in his
head. The sirens are a symbol of the government becoming the police officers. As George realizes
that Harrison has barged into the television studio, sounds of a car crash resonated in his
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Harrison Bergeron
"Harrison Bergeron" is a story about Big Government forcing equality on citizens by the use of
handicaps; in doing so they hold everyone back from their fullest potential. The year 2081 is
oppressive to say the least; people are punished for being above average in intelligence, beauty,
physical abilities or any variety of capabilities. No one is supposed to be more attractive, stronger,
more intelligent or quicker than anyone else. The quest for egalitarianism is faulty; people who are
born gifted are hindered by ridiculous weight bags, glasses to cause blindness and headaches, ear
radios that send nerve racking noises every twenty seconds courtesy of a government transmitter and
hideous masks are a few objects implemented to make...show more content...
She is always concerned of the effects Georges Government transmitter makes as well as the effects
the noises has on him. At times the noises are crippling and she tries to connect with him by asking
what noises he heard. After an abnormally debilitating sound, she notices how tired her husband
looks and suggests that he stretch out on the sofa to rest his handicap bag. "I don't care if you're not
equal to me for awhile." (847) She doesn't believe that there is competition between herself and her
husband in their home. She mentions that all he does while he is home is set around, there are no
activities going on in the home that would cause competition. When their television show was
interrupted with an urgent news bulletin, the announcer, like all announcers had a serious speech
impediment. After several minutes of attempting to read the bulletin, he gave up and passed it to one
of the ballerinas to read. This did not frustrate Hazel In spite of the interruption and the failure on the
announcer's part. "That's all right – he tried. That's the big thing. He tried to do the best that he could
with what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard." (848) Hazel only shows
concern for the announcer's inability to perform his job in the sense he tried his best and failed, but
its okay to fail as long as you try. The idea that people with speech impediments should not be
announcers did not enter into her mind. Hazel's reaction
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Harrison Bergeron In 2081 everyone was treated equally due to laws 211th, 212th, and 213th. Can
you imagine a world where nobody could be smarter or stronger than anyone else? In "Harrison
Bergeron" the law said that everyone was supposed to be equal in every way but everyone was not
truly equal. Everyone in " Harrison Bergeron" were being treated equally because they are being
treated differently, they have leaders that are treating them poorly, and all of these problems
could be because of laws 211th, 212th, and 213th. First of all, laws 211th, 212th, and 213th stated
that everyone was equal in every way. The laws changed the people and made them believe they
are equal but they truly aren't equal. For example at the beginning of the text it stated, " All this
equality was due to laws 211th, 212th, and 213th." A little later in the text it said, " Scrap metal
was hung all over him. Ordinarily, there was a certain symmetry, a military neatness to the
handicaps issued to strong people, but Harrison looked like a walking junk yard. In the race of
life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds." I think this is significant because in my first
example it proves that laws 211th, 212th, and 213th have officially been declared law and
everyone must be equal in every way. However, in my second example it proves that some people
were treated poorly because they did something better than other people. This also illustrates the
importance of how the three laws tricked people into thinking that they are being treated equally
even though in the text it stated that by law they had to wear handicapped. People had different
punishments which proves they were not being treated equally, while some people in " Harrison
Bergeron" is being treated equally, one must consider that everyone has the same punishment.
Some people had to carry heavier scrap metals or even uglier masks. As a result people in Harrison
Bergeron were not being treated equally because they had different handicaps. Second of all, they
all might have the same level of intelligence and strength but they are being treated differently. For
example in the text it stated, " He is a genius and and an athlete, is under–handicapped, and should be
regarded as extremely
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Harrison Bergeron Essay
Harrison Bergeron Imagine a world where an oppressive government captures what many call
diversity. Where ugly is known as beauty and intelligence is insignificant. "They weren't only equal
before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else.
Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else."
(Vonnegut) This is the future that Harrison experiences, in the short story "Harrison Bergeron," by
Kurt Vonnegut. It is the year 2081 and the government handicaps every citizen with make up or
weights to create equality. Where there are over than 200 amendments and the government has full
control of all citizens, this is indeed against what America had been...show more content...
Along with captivating the freedom of the people they also cause people pain so they cannot
think of their own free will. "George came back in with the beer, paused while a handicap signal
shook him up. And then he sat down again. '"You been crying"' he said to Hazel. '"Yup,"' she said.
'"What about?"' he said. '"I forget,"' she said. "Something real sad on television"' (Reed) Hazel is
what is said to be a normal person, but is this really a level of normal intelligence? Civil rights
were made so people were able to think and recreate what they think is wrong. To take away that
reasoning and make their intelligence lower is similar to having a country full of wild animals that
cannot think for themselves and allow others to lead them to the answer. It is like a puppet and a
puppeteer where the people are the puppets and the governments is the puppeteer.
Freedom of speech is on the same level of importance as freedom of thought. Speech is taking one's
thoughts and transmitting them into words. Both are exiled in the world of Harrison Bergeron
and are said to be unwanted. The opportunity to speak one's free will is not a luxury it is a
necessity for all humans. For a group of people to take this away from others and compress them is
against
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Harrison Bergeron Essay
In the short story, Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut shows that the government will always try to
limit the power of the people to keep them within their control. This story shows the power of the law
for the government and the ability to keep the people of a country under control. In this story, the
211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution are what made the people of the United
States of America in 2081 equal in both physical and mental capabilities. When Mr. Vonnegut
published this short story, Joseph Stalin and the U.S.S.R., a communist country, was in the cold war
with U.S.A. At this point in time, the prospect of the U.S.A. losing the war was a very real
possibility, and this short story showed the extreme of what the U.S.A....show more content...
In the story, it is said that the ones with intelligence are given mental handicaps to keep them from
having intelligent thoughts for too long and the ones who were beautiful, strong, and or athletic
were given masks and weights which they must wear at all times. Also, during the time this was
being written, people like Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were fighting for human rights and
the fact that they were not given fair opportunities was almost like they were handicapped. This
evidence from the text shows how the handicaps could be used and the real–life surroundings of
Kurt Vonnegutand what was happening in America around the time that this short story was being
written shows how the government really does handicap certain groups of people to lessen the
chance of them becoming successful people. The handicaps are still evident today because
Americans and Canadians may like to think that all people have equal opportunities, but, the harsh
reality is that women and people of colour are still not given the equal opportunities they deserve.
This story also shows that through propaganda and the television, the government can brainwash
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Themes Of Harrison Bergeron
"Government need supervision, just like a ten ages do, if you give them too much freedom they
will get out of control and will walk over you!" – Zybejta Beta Metani'Marashi. The short story,
"Harrison Bergeron" By Kurt Vonnegut is about the government in America finally making people
equal in every which way –anyone who is above average in anything gets handicapped in some
way–. The short story, "Test" by Theodore Thomas explains how higher authorities use their power
to decide the fates of people by checking their reaction on a test individual's take. The theme of both
of these stories is to never give the government too much power, otherwise, the people will face a lot
of trouble. When the government has too much power over its citizens, people suffer. In the short
story, "Harrison Bergeron" the author shows that the government basically made people dumb,
"Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think of anything except in
short bursts. And 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 was tuned to a
government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp
noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brain" (Vonnegut 3). This
demonstrates that the government doesn't want people to be intelligent. They found a good excuse
to handicap people and to take control over them
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Summary Of Harrison Bergeron
Harrison Bergeron is a story written by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's story is a warning to the world
about the quest of equality, which is spreading all round in many nations with America on the lead.
The story shows the reader how the equality issue can have negative impacts on people's
individuality, and the society. This story is about a certain one named Harrison Bergeron. Kurt
Vonnegut made this story to show the world that if everything was equal then what would happen to
the world. This story is fantastic if you love Science–Fiction. Vonnegut uses dark humor in this story
even in the most terrifying things. In the year 2081 the whole world is equal in every way shape
and form. The government changed the amendments so the world will have to follow those laws.
Furthermore the supremacy made the public wear physical and mental handicaps if they were
above–average perception, or if you were athletic they wore bags so you couldn't run. Harrison was
taken away from his parents (George and Hazel) by the Handicapper General; Diana Moon
Glampers. She was the one who decided if you were above average or not. Harrison was so above
average they had...show more content...
One day when Hazel and George were watching TV they saw ballerinas who had hideous masks to
cover up their beauty. Hazel started crying but she didn't know why. One day Harrison saw the
opportunity to break out of his atrocious cell and that's exactly what he did. He went to the TV
studio where the ballerina and the musicians were doing the news. He broke off his impediments
and called himself the Emperor and asked a ballerina to be his Empress and then he strapped off her
handicaps. Soon after, the handicapper general busted through the door and killed Harrison and the
ballerina, soon after the city had a blackout so you wouldn't witness the
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Harrison Bergeron Essay
In the following essay we will discuss to what extent do the novels of Kurt Vonnegut serve as a
mirror to American history and politics in the seconf half of the twentieth century in relation to two
of his texts. This essay plans on discussing the above topic with reference to the novel Harrison
Bergeron (1961) and Slaughterhouse Five (1969). Before we begin discussing the topic of tKurt
Vonneguts novels mirroring American history and politics in the second half og the twentieth
century, we must first divided the topic question into sub sections so we as readers can truly
understand the topic at hand. We will first discussKurt Vonnegut's novel Harrison Bergeron, firstly
we will discuss the plot overview so the reader will understand the following...show more content...
first we wil discuss television in Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut makes the television a constant
presence throughtout the story, the whole story is based from George and Hazel Bergeron's
sitting room as they sit and watch the ballet on television. When we tale a closer look at the use
of the television in the story we begin to notice that it is almost like a tool that hypnotises its
viewers. QUOTE. When Hazel Bergeron witnesses the murder of her son, Harrington, and begins
to cry QUOTE she is so distracted by the ballet she cant even remember why she is crying. This
scene for me was sure proof that the government are using the television as a control device for
members of society, Hazel Bergeron just watch her son die, she seems to have no recollection of
his death and just brushes off the tear and goes back to normal. Someone had to have intervened
for a mother to just go on like her son never existed. QUOTE. The government also uses the
television as a good tool to put people like Harrison Bergeron in a bad light QUOTE, Harrison is
seen as a dangerous fugitive in the publics eyes. They show his photo to frighten views but also
when we the public see how disfigured Harrison Bergeron is QUOTE it could also be seen as the
government using hid picture to frighten society into subservience. If seeing what Harrison
Bergeron has been forced to endure wasn't bad enough, the public then watch his public execution
when the handicap General Diana Moon Glampers shoots him dead on live
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The Message Of Harrison Bergeron
The message of harrison bergeron is that total equality isn't as good as it sounds and should not be
the goal like many people think. But physical and mental equality should be what we should be
striving for. What makes the story and movie different is in the movie it focuses more on Harrison
and how he affects the setting. But in the movie it focuses more on harrison's parents and how the
setting affects them. The message vonnegut was trying to make was hope of a possibility that the
system will change, the people will come together and take control and the evil will fall. Harrison
Bergeron because he wrote it so i think he'd like it more because he puts everything important into it.
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Harrison Bergeron Equality Essay
Harrison Bergeron, a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, is not written for the light reader. This story of
equality shows deeply of how horrid it would be to be born special, different, smarter, faster,
stronger, etc, in a world where you are forced to be equal. Despite the usual connotation of the word
equality, Kurt Vonnegutlooks at the cost of making everyone be the same. He has shown through
his words the torture you must endure in order to make you the same as everyone else, being a radio
intending to scatter your thoughts, weights to weigh you down, or even a hideous, grotesque, mask
used to hide your charming face. After you've lived with these handicaps a man, named Harrison
Bergeron, trying to change how things are interrupts your show....show more content...
This is significant because when he removes the handicaps from the "empress" and musicians.
"Harrison plucked the mental handicap from her ear, snapped off her physical handicaps with
marvelous delicacy. Last of all he removed her mask.... The musicians scrambled back into their
chairs, and Harrison stripped them of their handicaps, too. 'Play your best,' he told them, ' and I'll
make you barons and dukes and earls." This quote shows that even people who are considered
professionals are downgraded to average. The sweet idea of equality has blinded the people from
what it means to put hard work into something. Working hard give joy and pride to the person
who succeeded. The bitter, sour, hard work leads to the sweet enjoyment of success. If hard work
does lead to enjoyment and the government handicap people who have a talent or put hard work
into a skill, in order to maintain equality. Therefore, equality has a bitter reality. The musicians are
forced to be downgraded as well as the ballerinas. This is taking away from the hard work that
would be put in normally. Every one being at the same level, same skill, would be aggravating for
many people, including myself. Knowing that all the hard work put into something and then being
told it is illegal to be better than the
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Harrison Bergeron Essay
Throughout the short story, Harrison Bergeron, written by Kurt Vonnegut, Vonnegut tries to spread
a general theme. In Harrison Bergeron, the audience meets several characters in a utopian society.
In this utopian society, everyone is equal. If someone had an above average intelligence, they
were handicapped. These handicaps were not to be taken off, but to be worn at all times. They all
had to be on the same level. In the end, people try to break free, and the government did not want
the society to be like this, so they killed them. Today our society is trying to equalize, but we have
not been successful. The theme in the short story Harrison Bergeron is that equalizing is not always
good to do in a world like we have today.
In society today,...show more content...
In Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut has the government controlling the people. In this short story, the
handicapper general, Diana, is representing the government today. She does not have any
handicaps although she would if she was just a normal person in society. She controls what
handicaps certain people get, and she has the power to basically anything that she desires to
happen. At the end of the story, " Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the
musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on"(105). Diana is in
control of everyone below her, just like the government does in our society today. Vonnegut does
not want our society to get to the point where other people are brought down because the
government is telling them to. He wants the people who make up society to stand up and not let this
happen. He is telling the readers of the story that they need to stand up and not let society get to this
awful point where the people's lives are worse. In the end, Vonnegut thinks that if we continue down
the path of trying to equalize society, the people will end up regretting what they have
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Harrison Bergeron Reflection
In school we learn many things, from what we read, see, and hear; but I believe that there are a
few specific stories students should read while at the high school. One short story in particular
"Harrison Bergeron" teaches a very important message to those who read it. In this short story we
see a utopian society where everyone is exactly the same, but in the end teaches the reader that a
society like that is horrible, and everyone should be themselves. In the society, people who are
gifted, stronger, smarter, prettier, all need to wear a handicap that makes them "equal" to those who
are more ordinary. I believe that being unique and an individual is an important lesson for students to
learn, thus they should read "Harrison Bergeron".
At...show more content...
This is important, because if students are fighting the futile fight for normality, then they should
hear this story, to take a look at a world where everyone was normal, and anybody who stuck out
was shot down. If "He (Harrison Bergeron) is a genius and an athlete... (and regarded as extremely
dangerous" (Vonnegut 3) Who would want to live in a world like that? Ifstudent take this message to
heart, they will hopefully embrace abnormality and not let the current normality trend affect them
from finding themselves, as that is what high school is for, (along with education) becoming the adult
you will be for the rest of your life.
In my life, I have seen plenty of friends and classmates, as well as myself who wanted to do one
thing, but have done another due to peer pressure. They are all wonderful people by society is
suppressing their greatness. Most importantly though, students should not compare grades and
things similar to that, because nobody is the same and not everyone learns and works the same
way, take me for example, I am not the best at history, but I do much better in geometry and
biology, if you are a great artist and are average in geometry, you should not compare with me, or
anyone else for that matter, because we are not the same people, with the same interests and values.
If schools do not teach this, they still might talk to
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

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Harrison Bergeron Essay Topics

  • 1. The story of Harrison Bergeron is enticingly different than any other. It opened my mind to new ideas and changed the way I think about issues and situations. In the movie and short story, "Harrison Bergeron," the characters live in a much different world than the one we live in. In Harrison Bergeron, the American government was overthrown for the purpose of removing competition. This means everybody is now paid the same, their grades need to be average, but most importantly, they are required to wear bands on their heads that protect them from thinking creatively. These kinds of ideas, ones that go outside of the norm, conflict the government. Despite this, Harrison Bergeron excels in all his classes and begins to question his everyday life. Eventually he learns that the people that work for the government don't wear bands and are allowed to compete freely. After hearing real, divine music and seeing dazzling art, he realizes that the people living in America are missing competition as an imperative part of their lives. As a result, he tries to disrupt their boring cycle of being by broadcasting the music and art on television, prompting people to take off their bands. The reason this matters is that as throughout the story, Harrison seems to be the only person rebelling. This is because people typically want to choose whatever's convenient to them, and they never want to leave their comfort–zone if it means their world could change. So my question is this: Why is Harrison Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. Outline For Harrison Bergeron The story "Harrison Bergeron" is about a society in the future where people with beauty, strength, or intelligence are given handicaps in order to decrease these abilities they were born with so they are able to be brought down to a level that would make everyone equal to each other. Due to this, one Harrison Bergeron stood against the government by removing his handicaps as to regain his freedom from them, all while being watched on television by George and Hazel Bergeron. The book "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegutis a story that teaches readers that you should never let anyone take away your freedom from you. One example of when you can that freedoms shouldn't be taken away in this story is on page 2. During this scene, Hazel suggests that George takes his handicaps off, but he responds by telling her that he has become used to them, and they've become a part of him. Although he says they no longer bother him, Hazel also mentioned to George "all of a sudden you look so tired." This shows that even though the people being affected were subliminal to it, they were having their freedoms taken away from them. Also, having their freedoms taken away from them, even without realizing, was taking a negative toll on the people in this story....show more content... During this part of the story, Harrison Bergeron and his "empress" took off all of their handicaps as to assert their independence. Once these handicaps had been removed, they each defied the laws of motion and gravity and were able to leap all the way to the ceiling. This is an example of how the story shows the theme of "you shouldn't let others take away your freedom" because, without the handicaps that inhibited them, Harrison Bergeron and his "empress" were limitless. Their abilities without the handicaps show that without others holding you back, you have illimitable Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. Essay on Harrison Bergeron Harrison Bergeron, projected on a stage representing the conformity of a society with a system of Government based on equality for the weak, which are monitored and controlled by a dictatorial Government. This story is a literary sample that gives us a system of Government, where the law was created with the intention of limiting the individuals and turning them into beings with actuation equality, controlling them through the transmitters or obstacles in their body for that people could not exercise freely their natural abilities and any kind of right view. According to Jose Alvarez," if all was equal in every purpose, various obstacles would not be required "A Government limited for the weak, in a society where the...show more content... (Law and Society, 2007, p.51) Vonnegut gives us a sample of the lack of freedom, calling to American society to preserve freedom and respect for civil rights, allowing that all the benefits of a system of Government are not only of those who have the power. Harrison Bergeron 3 As a point of comparison of this scenario and the America today, we could cite the implementation of laws which are only thinking about in the interests of a particular group of society, as it was the recent Ordinance of not smoking in public areas, that helps a group of non–smokers, but restricting law through legal action of another group that are smokers, removing the right to do freely what they want. This history reflects a society , where involves the legal system to exert punishments against anyone that disclosing capacity that could affect on the Government, a judicial system that is within the parameters of equality projected in this story, which deprives the citizen the right to defend itself against accusations of a controller and authoritarian Government. Vonnegut let view to us, that without civil rights, the culture values are mediocre to the point that the people accept oppressive measures in the name of the law. The lives of the American society is concentrated on working to live and spend money, under a capitalist system that are Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Harrison Bergeron Summary The story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is about a couple in the year 2081. In 2081 the government wants everyone to be equal so they hand out handicaps to people with good looks, vision, strength, brains, and other talents. The couple, Hazel and George Bergeron, are watching dancers on tv when an announcer comes on. He says a person named Harrison Bergeron has escaped prison. Then they hear a thud and see a figure matching Harrison's description at the door. He goes up to the stage, rips off his handicaps, and asks one of the dancers to volunteer to be his Empress. When one comes up he takes off her handicaps and they begin to dance. They start to float till they kiss the ceiling. The doors burst open and in walks the Handicapper General. She pulls out a gun and shoots them both. I'm going to prove that the setting of this story needs more detail and that the characters, specifically Harrison and Hazel Bergeron, have nice subtle backstories. "The year was 2081 and everyone was finally equal," (pg 1). All we know about time and place is in that sentence. We know the year, but we learn more about the times later in the story. Well, the times as in society at that time. "Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think about anything except...show more content... I have also shown that Harrison and Hazel Bergeron have amazing backstories. The story tells you about the people, a dark world with no uniqueness and a brainwashed society, and that the year is 2081 but it doesn't mention a physical location. I reminded you Harrison is still a child and any of his behavior that could be considered rude is just his fit of sadness and rage from a childhood of suppression. Hazel had her child taken away from her when all she wanted to do was help those closest to her. That's enough to crush anyone. This story is a family who got caught in the midst of a government Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. Harrison Bergeron Harrison Bergeron "If I tried to get away with it, then other people'd get away with itВ—and soon we'd be right back to the dark ages againВ…" This statement by George Bergeron sums up Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s short story "Harrison Bergeron" in one line. "Harrison Bergeron" is the story of a futuristic United States in the year 2081, where all individuals are made equal regardless of what their natural born characteristics were. They are made equal both mentally and physically, all to the same measure of intelligence and strength. In "Harrison Bergeron" the society has become apathetic and equally conformed because of the power of the Handicapper General, the forced use of handicaps, and the people within the society who continued to let...show more content... By allowing the government to pass over 200 amendments to the constitution they are tolerating their lives being run for them. Without voting against these amendments or trying to repeal them they have gotten to a point where there is now nothing they can do to go back and change things. "They were equal in every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else." These were the laws that were passed in the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the "Constitution." As of now, in 2005, our society has 27 Amendments. To think of having over 200 is unfathomable. The society is apathetic and content with being "average." They don't revolt or vote against these injustices, they accept them. "Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on." It is obvious that the people can remove their handicaps, they do have control over them, but they choose not to, even in private. Hazel tries to get George to take out a few of the "lead balls" because he has been "so tired lately В– kind of wore out." Yet, he won't he has been programmed to obey the law by any means. By not taking off the handicaps, the society and the people in it have perpetuated the actions taken by the government and those in charge. The story "Harrison Bergeron," though fictional and futuristic, is a great portrayal of what life could Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Harrison Bergeron Essay Theme Harrison Bergeron Essay The year is 2081, and Harrison Bergeron is a boy living in a society where all the people must be equal. The government is brainwashing everyone to believe that's true, but Harrison sees what's really happening. He is one of the smartest people in the society, but that's what gets him into trouble. Because he is so smart the government believes he wants to overthrow them. They take him away from home and put him in jail. The theme I pulled out of this story is one that we hear a lot. People want to be treated equally. But in this story the government forces them to be. They have to wear headbands that control their thoughts and buzz loudly every 20 seconds. Good–looking people have to wear masks to hide their ...show more content... He is also wearing a huge set of earphones, thick glasses, a red rubber nose, and a lot of metal junk. He has seen the TV show with the ballerinas, too, and he is angry. All he wants is to go back to his home and family and live a normal life. He doesn't want to live with things the way they are. He knows that people are individuals and will risk everything to make them understand. The ballerina warns people that Harrison is dangerous just as people who are still watching TV hear a loud crash and the screech of a door being torn off its hinges. There is no longer a picture, there is a live Harrison Bergeron. The dancers, the announcer, the musicians, and the TV crew are scared. "I am the emperor!" Harrison shouts. "Everybody must do what I say!" He says that even with all the handicaps he is the greatest ruler that has ever lived, and just watch what he can become. He removes the weights and the disguise and throws them down. "I shall now select my Empress!" he shouts again, and says that the first woman who stands up will claim her mate and her throne. Slowly, one of the dancers gets up. Harrison gently removes her mask and her weights. She is beautiful. He calls for music, and the musicians go back to their seats, remove their weights and disguises, and begin to play. Harrison and his empress feel happy and free. They twirl around and begin to rise up toward the ceiling. They kiss the ceiling, and then they kiss each Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. Essay On Harrison Bergeron The story "Harrison Bergeron" written by Kurt VOnnegut Jr. explores the idea of a perfect society. A life where you are completely oppressed to be like everyone else. A young boy known as Harrison Bergeron seeks to have change in society and for everyone to be free. Harrison showed the idea of being free would bring harm to everyone and that is what he did he did not present himself as being a hero but being dangerous to everyone against him. Harrison Bergeron was just like everyone living according to the rules of society when one day it changed. Bergeron no longer wanted to be restrained or held back and decided to take matters into his own hands. As announced, "...has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government...and should be regarded as extremely...show more content... Everyone was forced to follow rules and he just wanted everyone to be free. As it explains, "The were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody." () Harrison did not like that and wanted change. He planned to show what they could really do if they were free he showed it. As it states, "And then, in an explosion of joy and grace, into the air they sprang! Not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the laws of motion as well. Bergeron did what he wanted to show the people the right way to be living. Harrison Bergeron was a hero to society by showing them the benefits of being free in life. The society they lived in was made to keep everyone equal no one could be better than anyone in any way. Harrison Bergeron tried to be a hero but failed letting anger control his gree. Harrison could also be seen as a hero to guide people to see the good in freedom. Harrison wan a danger to society by misguiding the idea of freedom and showing a sense of fear of a different Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. Harrison Bergeron Literary Analysis Picture a society, far in the future, where everyone, by government control, must be on the same level. Would this be Hell or a utopia? This is the subject of Kurt Vonnegut's short story, "Harrison Bergeron". In this society, the gifted, strong, and beautiful are required to wear multiple handicaps of earphones, heavy weights, and hideous masks. In turn, these constraints leave the world equal, or arguably devoid of, from brains to brawn to beauty. With the constant push for equality among all people, Vonnegut reveals a world that society is diligently working toward. "Harrison Bergeron" is written as a form of satire with heavy irony, to demonstrate the clear difference between equity and equality in society. "Harrison Bergeron" is...show more content... Beauty is seen as an unfair attribute so it is countered by beautiful people being required to wear ugly masks. This is an example of the satirical nature of the story because it is still obvious to tell who is beautiful and who is not since the more beautiful, the uglier the mask. This is evidenced during the scene where Hazel and George are watching the ballet. In reference to one of the ballerinas, "She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous" Vonnegut wrote this story in the midst of 1961, during the Cold War and at the beginning of the anti–establishment 60s. Knowing the historical significance of this time period offers context. This provides insight into the thought processes and emotions behind creating the story, or what it could be written as a response to. Once analyzed, it is clear to see that it is filled with various social and political critiques of 1960s America. It's safe to say that he aimed to shed some light onto what might happen if America followed in the footsteps of communist ideals like the Soviet Union's USSR during the 1950s and 1960s. This connects back to the conflict of equality vs. equity because communism was created in to represent true "equality" of citizens. The goal was to make input and output the same for everyone. Harrison Bergeron is a satirical take on the principles of communism. The author Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. Characters In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron Characters in "Harrison Bergeron" are sedated, governed, and intimidated through television. The entire story takes place with George and Hazel sitting in front of their TV. Vonnegut illustrates to the readers how television "freezes" the characters mind in his opening lines. "George and Hazel were watching television. There were tears on Hazel's cheeks, but she'd forgotten for the moment what they were about" (Vonnegut 227). Hazel starts to cry but the ballerinas dancing on the screen make her overlook why she is crying. The government also uses television as a medium of enforcing regulations. When Harrison escapes jail the government announces an alert of his escape. They provided a picture of him covered up in his "handicaps". His good looks were disfigured, ". . . required that he wear at all times a red rubber ball for a nose, keep his eyebrows shaved off, and cover his white teeth with black caps at snaggle–tooth random," and his strength was dissipated with "scrap[s] of metal" hanging on top of him (Vonnegut 228–229). The photo is a way to intimated viewers, giving...show more content... At the beginning of the story George heard a buzzer while watching the ballerinas dance. While he was thinking about the idea of the dancers not being handicapped, the sound of a milk bottle being shattered by a hammer reverberated in his ears. When George began to think about his son, twenty–one guns firing interrupted is train of thought. The noise left George "white and trembling, and tears stood on the rims of his red eyes" (Vonnegut 227). As Hazel and George talk about the laws of equality and how society use to be in "dark ages," sirens start to go off in his head. The sirens are a symbol of the government becoming the police officers. As George realizes that Harrison has barged into the television studio, sounds of a car crash resonated in his Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. Harrison Bergeron "Harrison Bergeron" is a story about Big Government forcing equality on citizens by the use of handicaps; in doing so they hold everyone back from their fullest potential. The year 2081 is oppressive to say the least; people are punished for being above average in intelligence, beauty, physical abilities or any variety of capabilities. No one is supposed to be more attractive, stronger, more intelligent or quicker than anyone else. The quest for egalitarianism is faulty; people who are born gifted are hindered by ridiculous weight bags, glasses to cause blindness and headaches, ear radios that send nerve racking noises every twenty seconds courtesy of a government transmitter and hideous masks are a few objects implemented to make...show more content... She is always concerned of the effects Georges Government transmitter makes as well as the effects the noises has on him. At times the noises are crippling and she tries to connect with him by asking what noises he heard. After an abnormally debilitating sound, she notices how tired her husband looks and suggests that he stretch out on the sofa to rest his handicap bag. "I don't care if you're not equal to me for awhile." (847) She doesn't believe that there is competition between herself and her husband in their home. She mentions that all he does while he is home is set around, there are no activities going on in the home that would cause competition. When their television show was interrupted with an urgent news bulletin, the announcer, like all announcers had a serious speech impediment. After several minutes of attempting to read the bulletin, he gave up and passed it to one of the ballerinas to read. This did not frustrate Hazel In spite of the interruption and the failure on the announcer's part. "That's all right – he tried. That's the big thing. He tried to do the best that he could with what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard." (848) Hazel only shows concern for the announcer's inability to perform his job in the sense he tried his best and failed, but its okay to fail as long as you try. The idea that people with speech impediments should not be announcers did not enter into her mind. Hazel's reaction Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Harrison Bergeron In 2081 everyone was treated equally due to laws 211th, 212th, and 213th. Can you imagine a world where nobody could be smarter or stronger than anyone else? In "Harrison Bergeron" the law said that everyone was supposed to be equal in every way but everyone was not truly equal. Everyone in " Harrison Bergeron" were being treated equally because they are being treated differently, they have leaders that are treating them poorly, and all of these problems could be because of laws 211th, 212th, and 213th. First of all, laws 211th, 212th, and 213th stated that everyone was equal in every way. The laws changed the people and made them believe they are equal but they truly aren't equal. For example at the beginning of the text it stated, " All this equality was due to laws 211th, 212th, and 213th." A little later in the text it said, " Scrap metal was hung all over him. Ordinarily, there was a certain symmetry, a military neatness to the handicaps issued to strong people, but Harrison looked like a walking junk yard. In the race of life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds." I think this is significant because in my first example it proves that laws 211th, 212th, and 213th have officially been declared law and everyone must be equal in every way. However, in my second example it proves that some people were treated poorly because they did something better than other people. This also illustrates the importance of how the three laws tricked people into thinking that they are being treated equally even though in the text it stated that by law they had to wear handicapped. People had different punishments which proves they were not being treated equally, while some people in " Harrison Bergeron" is being treated equally, one must consider that everyone has the same punishment. Some people had to carry heavier scrap metals or even uglier masks. As a result people in Harrison Bergeron were not being treated equally because they had different handicaps. Second of all, they all might have the same level of intelligence and strength but they are being treated differently. For example in the text it stated, " He is a genius and and an athlete, is under–handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. Harrison Bergeron Essay Harrison Bergeron Imagine a world where an oppressive government captures what many call diversity. Where ugly is known as beauty and intelligence is insignificant. "They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else." (Vonnegut) This is the future that Harrison experiences, in the short story "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut. It is the year 2081 and the government handicaps every citizen with make up or weights to create equality. Where there are over than 200 amendments and the government has full control of all citizens, this is indeed against what America had been...show more content... Along with captivating the freedom of the people they also cause people pain so they cannot think of their own free will. "George came back in with the beer, paused while a handicap signal shook him up. And then he sat down again. '"You been crying"' he said to Hazel. '"Yup,"' she said. '"What about?"' he said. '"I forget,"' she said. "Something real sad on television"' (Reed) Hazel is what is said to be a normal person, but is this really a level of normal intelligence? Civil rights were made so people were able to think and recreate what they think is wrong. To take away that reasoning and make their intelligence lower is similar to having a country full of wild animals that cannot think for themselves and allow others to lead them to the answer. It is like a puppet and a puppeteer where the people are the puppets and the governments is the puppeteer. Freedom of speech is on the same level of importance as freedom of thought. Speech is taking one's thoughts and transmitting them into words. Both are exiled in the world of Harrison Bergeron and are said to be unwanted. The opportunity to speak one's free will is not a luxury it is a necessity for all humans. For a group of people to take this away from others and compress them is against Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Harrison Bergeron Essay In the short story, Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut shows that the government will always try to limit the power of the people to keep them within their control. This story shows the power of the law for the government and the ability to keep the people of a country under control. In this story, the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution are what made the people of the United States of America in 2081 equal in both physical and mental capabilities. When Mr. Vonnegut published this short story, Joseph Stalin and the U.S.S.R., a communist country, was in the cold war with U.S.A. At this point in time, the prospect of the U.S.A. losing the war was a very real possibility, and this short story showed the extreme of what the U.S.A....show more content... In the story, it is said that the ones with intelligence are given mental handicaps to keep them from having intelligent thoughts for too long and the ones who were beautiful, strong, and or athletic were given masks and weights which they must wear at all times. Also, during the time this was being written, people like Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were fighting for human rights and the fact that they were not given fair opportunities was almost like they were handicapped. This evidence from the text shows how the handicaps could be used and the real–life surroundings of Kurt Vonnegutand what was happening in America around the time that this short story was being written shows how the government really does handicap certain groups of people to lessen the chance of them becoming successful people. The handicaps are still evident today because Americans and Canadians may like to think that all people have equal opportunities, but, the harsh reality is that women and people of colour are still not given the equal opportunities they deserve. This story also shows that through propaganda and the television, the government can brainwash Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. Themes Of Harrison Bergeron "Government need supervision, just like a ten ages do, if you give them too much freedom they will get out of control and will walk over you!" – Zybejta Beta Metani'Marashi. The short story, "Harrison Bergeron" By Kurt Vonnegut is about the government in America finally making people equal in every which way –anyone who is above average in anything gets handicapped in some way–. The short story, "Test" by Theodore Thomas explains how higher authorities use their power to decide the fates of people by checking their reaction on a test individual's take. The theme of both of these stories is to never give the government too much power, otherwise, the people will face a lot of trouble. When the government has too much power over its citizens, people suffer. In the short story, "Harrison Bergeron" the author shows that the government basically made people dumb, "Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think of anything except in short bursts. And 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 was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brain" (Vonnegut 3). This demonstrates that the government doesn't want people to be intelligent. They found a good excuse to handicap people and to take control over them Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. Summary Of Harrison Bergeron Harrison Bergeron is a story written by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's story is a warning to the world about the quest of equality, which is spreading all round in many nations with America on the lead. The story shows the reader how the equality issue can have negative impacts on people's individuality, and the society. This story is about a certain one named Harrison Bergeron. Kurt Vonnegut made this story to show the world that if everything was equal then what would happen to the world. This story is fantastic if you love Science–Fiction. Vonnegut uses dark humor in this story even in the most terrifying things. In the year 2081 the whole world is equal in every way shape and form. The government changed the amendments so the world will have to follow those laws. Furthermore the supremacy made the public wear physical and mental handicaps if they were above–average perception, or if you were athletic they wore bags so you couldn't run. Harrison was taken away from his parents (George and Hazel) by the Handicapper General; Diana Moon Glampers. She was the one who decided if you were above average or not. Harrison was so above average they had...show more content... One day when Hazel and George were watching TV they saw ballerinas who had hideous masks to cover up their beauty. Hazel started crying but she didn't know why. One day Harrison saw the opportunity to break out of his atrocious cell and that's exactly what he did. He went to the TV studio where the ballerina and the musicians were doing the news. He broke off his impediments and called himself the Emperor and asked a ballerina to be his Empress and then he strapped off her handicaps. Soon after, the handicapper general busted through the door and killed Harrison and the ballerina, soon after the city had a blackout so you wouldn't witness the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. Harrison Bergeron Essay In the following essay we will discuss to what extent do the novels of Kurt Vonnegut serve as a mirror to American history and politics in the seconf half of the twentieth century in relation to two of his texts. This essay plans on discussing the above topic with reference to the novel Harrison Bergeron (1961) and Slaughterhouse Five (1969). Before we begin discussing the topic of tKurt Vonneguts novels mirroring American history and politics in the second half og the twentieth century, we must first divided the topic question into sub sections so we as readers can truly understand the topic at hand. We will first discussKurt Vonnegut's novel Harrison Bergeron, firstly we will discuss the plot overview so the reader will understand the following...show more content... first we wil discuss television in Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut makes the television a constant presence throughtout the story, the whole story is based from George and Hazel Bergeron's sitting room as they sit and watch the ballet on television. When we tale a closer look at the use of the television in the story we begin to notice that it is almost like a tool that hypnotises its viewers. QUOTE. When Hazel Bergeron witnesses the murder of her son, Harrington, and begins to cry QUOTE she is so distracted by the ballet she cant even remember why she is crying. This scene for me was sure proof that the government are using the television as a control device for members of society, Hazel Bergeron just watch her son die, she seems to have no recollection of his death and just brushes off the tear and goes back to normal. Someone had to have intervened for a mother to just go on like her son never existed. QUOTE. The government also uses the television as a good tool to put people like Harrison Bergeron in a bad light QUOTE, Harrison is seen as a dangerous fugitive in the publics eyes. They show his photo to frighten views but also when we the public see how disfigured Harrison Bergeron is QUOTE it could also be seen as the government using hid picture to frighten society into subservience. If seeing what Harrison Bergeron has been forced to endure wasn't bad enough, the public then watch his public execution when the handicap General Diana Moon Glampers shoots him dead on live Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. The Message Of Harrison Bergeron The message of harrison bergeron is that total equality isn't as good as it sounds and should not be the goal like many people think. But physical and mental equality should be what we should be striving for. What makes the story and movie different is in the movie it focuses more on Harrison and how he affects the setting. But in the movie it focuses more on harrison's parents and how the setting affects them. The message vonnegut was trying to make was hope of a possibility that the system will change, the people will come together and take control and the evil will fall. Harrison Bergeron because he wrote it so i think he'd like it more because he puts everything important into it. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 18. Harrison Bergeron Equality Essay Harrison Bergeron, a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, is not written for the light reader. This story of equality shows deeply of how horrid it would be to be born special, different, smarter, faster, stronger, etc, in a world where you are forced to be equal. Despite the usual connotation of the word equality, Kurt Vonnegutlooks at the cost of making everyone be the same. He has shown through his words the torture you must endure in order to make you the same as everyone else, being a radio intending to scatter your thoughts, weights to weigh you down, or even a hideous, grotesque, mask used to hide your charming face. After you've lived with these handicaps a man, named Harrison Bergeron, trying to change how things are interrupts your show....show more content... This is significant because when he removes the handicaps from the "empress" and musicians. "Harrison plucked the mental handicap from her ear, snapped off her physical handicaps with marvelous delicacy. Last of all he removed her mask.... The musicians scrambled back into their chairs, and Harrison stripped them of their handicaps, too. 'Play your best,' he told them, ' and I'll make you barons and dukes and earls." This quote shows that even people who are considered professionals are downgraded to average. The sweet idea of equality has blinded the people from what it means to put hard work into something. Working hard give joy and pride to the person who succeeded. The bitter, sour, hard work leads to the sweet enjoyment of success. If hard work does lead to enjoyment and the government handicap people who have a talent or put hard work into a skill, in order to maintain equality. Therefore, equality has a bitter reality. The musicians are forced to be downgraded as well as the ballerinas. This is taking away from the hard work that would be put in normally. Every one being at the same level, same skill, would be aggravating for many people, including myself. Knowing that all the hard work put into something and then being told it is illegal to be better than the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. Harrison Bergeron Essay Throughout the short story, Harrison Bergeron, written by Kurt Vonnegut, Vonnegut tries to spread a general theme. In Harrison Bergeron, the audience meets several characters in a utopian society. In this utopian society, everyone is equal. If someone had an above average intelligence, they were handicapped. These handicaps were not to be taken off, but to be worn at all times. They all had to be on the same level. In the end, people try to break free, and the government did not want the society to be like this, so they killed them. Today our society is trying to equalize, but we have not been successful. The theme in the short story Harrison Bergeron is that equalizing is not always good to do in a world like we have today. In society today,...show more content... In Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut has the government controlling the people. In this short story, the handicapper general, Diana, is representing the government today. She does not have any handicaps although she would if she was just a normal person in society. She controls what handicaps certain people get, and she has the power to basically anything that she desires to happen. At the end of the story, " Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on"(105). Diana is in control of everyone below her, just like the government does in our society today. Vonnegut does not want our society to get to the point where other people are brought down because the government is telling them to. He wants the people who make up society to stand up and not let this happen. He is telling the readers of the story that they need to stand up and not let society get to this awful point where the people's lives are worse. In the end, Vonnegut thinks that if we continue down the path of trying to equalize society, the people will end up regretting what they have Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 20. Harrison Bergeron Reflection In school we learn many things, from what we read, see, and hear; but I believe that there are a few specific stories students should read while at the high school. One short story in particular "Harrison Bergeron" teaches a very important message to those who read it. In this short story we see a utopian society where everyone is exactly the same, but in the end teaches the reader that a society like that is horrible, and everyone should be themselves. In the society, people who are gifted, stronger, smarter, prettier, all need to wear a handicap that makes them "equal" to those who are more ordinary. I believe that being unique and an individual is an important lesson for students to learn, thus they should read "Harrison Bergeron". At...show more content... This is important, because if students are fighting the futile fight for normality, then they should hear this story, to take a look at a world where everyone was normal, and anybody who stuck out was shot down. If "He (Harrison Bergeron) is a genius and an athlete... (and regarded as extremely dangerous" (Vonnegut 3) Who would want to live in a world like that? Ifstudent take this message to heart, they will hopefully embrace abnormality and not let the current normality trend affect them from finding themselves, as that is what high school is for, (along with education) becoming the adult you will be for the rest of your life. In my life, I have seen plenty of friends and classmates, as well as myself who wanted to do one thing, but have done another due to peer pressure. They are all wonderful people by society is suppressing their greatness. Most importantly though, students should not compare grades and things similar to that, because nobody is the same and not everyone learns and works the same way, take me for example, I am not the best at history, but I do much better in geometry and biology, if you are a great artist and are average in geometry, you should not compare with me, or anyone else for that matter, because we are not the same people, with the same interests and values. If schools do not teach this, they still might talk to Get more content on HelpWriting.net