Exaggeration And Irony In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

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The short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut can be understood differently depending on the person’s perspective and the background information they know. After doing some research on the author Vonnegut i got a closer perspective of his life and to what might have influenced him to write this short story. While i was reading this story i realized it was satirical, there was a lot of exaggeration and irony. My understanding upon this story was that in the year 2080 everyone was finally equal in every aspect. Those who were brighter, better looking, or more talented were provided with handicaps that eliminated any advantages and to average out to everyone else. Vonnegut took the concept of equality to an extreme but there was a lot behind it.. …show more content…

The political issues were about the government dictating everyone in every aspect. In 2009 when this story was published there was issues on equality, such as fighting for gay rights. When Barack Obama became president people started frequent rallies in washington and all over different states. They were protesting for a proposition that allowed same sexmarriage (peters). Till this day people are fighting for equality, currently this year, 2016 there is a “Black lives matter movement”. This movement rose around the country in response of racism against African-Americans and police attacks towards them (“The truth of black lives matter). I think that Vonnegut exaggerated on “Equality” in this story because it’s an enormous issue that might never have an end because it would be almost impossible for everyone to be equal. Although it’s a social issue it can become a political issue by the way the government decides to take charge upon people fighting for “equality”. Vonnegut might have exaggerated to make his audience realize that if everyone wants equality that’s how it would end up, like in “Harrison

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