What Is Harrison Bergeron's Theory Of Recognition

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Aristotle’s literary theory of recognition, reversal, and katharsis can be seen in the short story, “Harrison Bergeron”, by Kurt Vonnegut. According to Aristotle’s theory of katharsis, the feelings of pity and fear helps the reader to purge these emotions to feel better in the end. Recognition is a grand revelation that the main character or readers realize. Reversal is the unexpected change of direction that the story takes. Aristotle believes that the best tragedies include both recognition and reversal at the same time. In the story of “Harrison Bergeron”, Americans have become completely equal by the year 2081. Everyone is average and there are laws and equipment that makes sure that the population is identical in appearance, intelligence, …show more content…

Bergeron asks everyone at the television station to join him in rebelling because he realized that he can be who he wants to be and not what the government wants him to be. That was the moment that Harrison realized that he did not have to be the same as everyone else. Vonnegut shows the theory of recognition in the scene where “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore the straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds” (229). The theory of recognition is applied here as Bergeron breaks free of his physical and mental confinement and tries to help others do the same. It is in this scene where the main character gives himself and others hope that the government can be beaten as he sheds off his restraints. Vonnegut did not just randomly put in that scene of recognition into his story. As Aristotle says, “events must not seem to occur randomly or by coincidence, but should seem to proceed according to the laws of cause and effect” (Handout). Vonnegut purposely put in the recognition scene so that the tragedy would have a protagonist. Nothing that Vonnegut wrote into his story was on accident. His story about a grim, hopeless future needed a hero and the moment of recognition gave him the opportunity to introduce Harrison Bergeron as the main hero as he stands up for himself against the oppressive government. Without Aristotle’s theory of recognition applied …show more content…

The double dose of reversal occurred back-to-back as Bergeron realized that he and others should embrace their individuality andthe scene where the handicap general kills Bergeron for breaking the law. The first scene of reversal, where Bergeron strips off his handicap equipment, occurs at the same time as the scene of recognition. Not only does Bergeron realize that the government should not suppress people’s uniqueness but the scene also turns the story around and shows the reader that it is possible for a revolt to happen against the authoritarian government. Vonnegut gives Bergeron and his empress a taste of freedom as “they remained suspended in the air inches below the ceiling, and they kissed each other for a long, long time” (230). This moment of reversal is meant to give the reader and the people watching this happen on television that citizens do not have to be controlled anymore. The next moment of reversal happens right after Bergeron is enjoying his brief experience of freedom as the handicap general shoots Bergeron with a shotgun. The plot is turned around again as hope is taken away from the reader and the Americans as Bergeron’s death became an example of what would happen if any American defied the government. These moments of reversal are applied to the story in order to keep the reader engaged. Readers were captivated as Bergeron danced freely with his empress, but then the heartwarming scene

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