Harrison Bergeron Analysis Essay

1148 Words3 Pages

Harrison Bergeron Examination The story of Harrison Bergeron takes place in the distant future, year 2081. In this version of the future they have gone to great lengths to make everyone equal. Although society may be equal, it is not the best way for society to be. The story Harrison Bergeron makes this point by using its setting, plot, and characters to show that equality is not the solution to all the problems. The setting of Harrison and Bergeron is in the future when the year is 2081. But in this future everything is completely different than how things are now. Because they wanted all people to be equal they went to extreme measures to make it happen. According to Darryl Hattenhauer, “ satirizes an obsession with equalizing” (1). …show more content…

In this story the introduction, starts out with George sitting in his chair in his living room watching tv like another normal day. But just by reading the introduction you know that something is different, because it tells how George has these handy caps to make him less smart and strong so he is equal to everyone else. And then it talks about the dancers on the tv and how they are all equally as good of dancers as anyone else would have been because if they were stronger or prettier than anyone else they would of had to wear handy caps to make them equal. So by just reading this far you already can conclude that something is wrong with society. The climax of the story happens when Harrison niters into the studio and breaks free from all his chains and handicaps while on live tv. This part of the story is what really grabs the reader's attention because you know that something bad is going to happen so it makes you want to read more. And as he and the girl dance on the stage it is their way of saying that they are done following what society has to say, and how everyone should not be equal. The resolution to the story is the part of the story when the general ones in and kills Harrison and the girl. By doing so they stopped the two people that were rebelling against society. Because no one can keep the same thought for a long time, everyone that watched this happen forgot what had even happened. George watched the whole thing on his tv and watched the general shoot his son, but after the tv shut off, he had forgot that he had even seen it , he just knew that he was

Show More
Related

  • Harrison Bergeron Response

    177 Words  | 1 Pages

    Harrison Bergeron is a short story that has a deep meaning to it. To begin with, the short story Harrison Bergeron was made in 1961 and is written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. The whole short story is set in the far future of 2081. 2081 is a time where everybody is finally equal and when the government finally has full control over everyone. If you aren't equal you would have to wear handicaps to limit your extraordinary strength and smarts. As the story progresses, Harrison Bergeron is trying to send a message about society.

    Read More

  • Character Development In Harrison Bergeron

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    The future entails breakthrough technology and unknown leadership. The harsh rules of the government in, Harrison Bergeron, causes the protagonist, Harrison Bergeron, to come up with the dangerous idea to overthrow the government which leads to the violent behavior of the antagonist Diana Moon Glampers. The author, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., uses character development to show the theme of the harsh government through the eyes of the protagonist, antagonist, and the foil characters Hazel and George Bergeron in this futuristic society.

    Read More

  • A Literary Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    Harrison Bergeron is a short story that creates many images and feelings while using symbols and themes to critique aspects of our lives. In the story, the future US government implements a mandatory handicap for any citizens who is over their standards of normal. The goal of the program is to make everyone equal in physical capabilities, mental aptitude and even outward appearance. The story is focused around a husband and wife whose son, Harrison, was taken by the government because he is very strong and smart, and therefore too above normal not to be locked up. But, Harrison’s will is too great. He ends up breaking out of prison, and into a TV studio where he appears on TV. There, he removes the government’s equipment off of himself, and a dancer, before beginning to dance beautifully until they are both killed by the authorities. The author uses this story to satire

    Read More

  • Unequality in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Harrison Bergeron” starts with explaining the society within the story. It begins, “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way,” (Vonnegut 158). With this startlingly different introduction, Vonnegut explains that everyone is equal but does not include how during this time. As the story progresses, the reader begins to see exactly how the citizens are “equal.”

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Conformity

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    The individual is required to comply with society’s ideals. In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut sets the scene in this futuristic community when he begins, “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal … They were equal every

    Read More

  • Theme Of Individuality In Harrison Bergeron

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    The pages of history have longed been stained with the works of man written in blood. Wars and conflicts and bloodshed were all too common. But why? What could drive a man to kill another? Many would say it is man’s evil nature, his greed, envy, and wrath. And certainly, they all have a roll in it. But in reality, it is something far less malevolent, at least at first. The sole reason why conflicts grow and spread comes from the individuality that every human cherishes so dearly. This can easily be shown in the story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, in which a society has been created where everyone of talent has been handicapped so they are not better than anyone else, all for the sake of equality. This text will show that Individuality

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Theme Essay

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    He wears three-hundred pounds of buckshot around his neck, glasses that make him half blind, huge headset transmitter and caps on his teeth to make him look ugly. When he breaks free of his handicaps he is seen as a threat to society because of how superior he is. The fear instilled in the government is apparent when they burst into the news studio and shoot him dead, all on live television in front of his parents. However, no one will ever remember the spectacle Harrison put on because of the twenty second memory the population has. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. uses irony, hyperbole and reversal to help readers understand that total equality cannot be achieved without dire consequences.

    Read More

  • Discuss The Historical Context Of Harrison Bergeron

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Harrison Bergeron” is a short fiction written by Kurt Vonnegut, the story is set in the year 2081, and it talks about a futuristic society where all individuals are equal. No one is cleverer, beautiful or stronger than the other, and if somebody is better than the others, they find themselves compelled by The United States Handicapper General to put on what they call “handicaps” to bring down their abilities to the most basic levels as the others. Throughout the story, Vonnegut expresses a bold and vigorous political and social criticism of some historical events in the US during the 1960s such as the Cold War and Communism, television and American Culture and Civil Rights Movement.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Social Commentary Essay

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    “It was tragic, all right, but George and Hazel couldn't think about it very hard” (Vonnegut 3). Written in 1961, the classic “Harrison Bergeron” includes a meaningful story about society in the real world. The dystopian short story addresses how society might seem perfect, but deep down it has many issues that need to be solved. The story takes place in 2081, and 14 year old Harrison Bergeron is in jail for resisting the government. His parents, George and Hazel are controlled by the government with advanced technology. As shown in the quote, their thoughts are even restricted, along with the rest of the population as well. Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” critiques an illusion of a perfect society

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Character Analysis Essay

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hazel Bergeron in “Harrison Bergeron” is perhaps not the most obviously important character, when compared to the intellectual abilities of George Bergeron, she does not stand out. When comparing her to the great force that is Harrison, or the great beauty of the ballerina, again, she does not stand out. However, Hazel stands for much more than any of the other preceding characters, even Harrison himself. In the story of “Harrison Bergeron” Kurt Vonnegut establishes Hazel Bergeron as the light, sympathy, and, in some ways, foundation of the story; illustrating the kindness of humanity in the worst of times.

    Read More

  • Individuality In 'Harrison Bergeron' By Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, the futuristic setting of 2081, demonstrates the negative impacts of excessive equality and the detrimental effects that it can have on society. The governing body in the story is provided too much power, forcing individuals to be tamed for their individuality. The laws enforce weights to be worn upon the strong and athletic, the intelligent to stick radios on or in their ears, broadcasting government messages to disrupt their concentration, and for the good looking individuals to cover their faces with a mask. Harrison Bergeron is the story 's protagonist, his parents George and Hazel, hold similar characteristics but lack Harrison’s qualities of individuality and defiance. Sympathy

    Read More

  • Individualism In Harrison Bergeron

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    The laws that are set in 2081 which were originally put in place to eliminate opposition and create total equality, but results in an opposing outcome which leads to the elimination of an environment with freedom or individual indentity.Its ironic that equality is seen as equality ;The government uses propaganda to brainwash and manipulate the citizens living under the government at the time.Harrisons father George Bergeron is one out of the many citizens that has a mental handicap device implanted in his head.A radio is used to disrupt and prevent pro-longed thought.Heavy metal weights are strapped around Georges neck leaving him incapable of doing any task that wil...

    Read More

  • Essay On Harrison Bergeron

    441 Words  | 1 Pages

    “Harrison Bergeron” a short story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., takes place in a totalitarian society where everyone is equal. A man who tries to play the savior, but ultimately fails in his endeavors to change the world. Vonnegut short story showed political views on communism, which is that total equality is not good (and that equity might be better).

    Read More

  • Everyone Was Not Equal In 'Harrison Bergeron'

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever wondered what life would be if everyone was equal? Well, in the year 2081, the government made everyone equal with handicaps. In the story “Harrison Bergeron”, the government makes people with special talents or abilities wear handicaps. I agree with the claim,”Everyone was not truly equal in “Harrison Bergeron”. Some reasons why I believe that this statement wasn’t true is that the handicaps don’t take away your abilities, handicaps are not useful, and it is not fair for the people with abilities to wear handicaps. Everyone is truly equal in “Harrison Bergeron” because it made average people and below average people feel equal to the higher and better people.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the comparisons are well hidden, both today’s society and the story ‘Harrison Bergeron’ share similar qualities. They both deal with equality, which leads to problems and consequences. A second similarity is the struggle of competition and trying to prevent it from occurring, which also leads to problems. Lastly, both struggle with normality, and the fact that it’s hard to accept that different is okay now.

    Read More

More about Harrison Bergeron Analysis Essay

Open Document