Harrison Bergeron By Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

What are the most important elements that constitute a good life? This may be one of the most controversial questions that every society and individual grapples with at some point. I define a good life as one where individuals can freely experiment with the way they wish to live. Using the philosophical texts of John Stuart Mill, the ‘dystopian’ society in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., and my art piece that illustrates the beauty of self-expression, I will demonstrate that an essential element of a good life is that individuals must be able to express dissenting opinions without facing coercion to change their opinion, as individual expression cultivates individuality, talent, and more thoughtful thinking.

John Stuart Mill posits

I painted a figure right in the middle of painting like a very wild, bright and expressive fire. The fire represents a non-conforming individual freely expressing themselves. When a person expresses their individualistic self-expression, they become beautiful and alive like a fire. I show this with vibrant reds, yellows and oranges and the patchy fluctuations in the flames. The fire also symbolizes the vulnerability of an individual, as if the ‘winds’ of society become too great, the individual’s self-expression blows out. I suggest the wind by making the flames veer towards the left and the grass lean towards the left. The grass represents conformity in society, as grass tends to look the same, is comfortably rooted in the ground, and always goes in the direction of the wind. I paint the grass a dark dull green, to symbolise the dull lifestyle. Then I painted complementary-colored arcs to illustrate ripples. These ripples coming from the individual, symbolise the positive effects his self-expression inflicts upon society, by converting the dull grass into vibrant colors. Furthermore, water symbolises cleansing life and freedom. The water cleanses the mindlessly conforming individuals. I also painted the grass green, because it complements the red of the fire, showing how interactions between the self-expression individuals and the crowd reaps positive effects, instead of a fire burning them, although the fire can still burn