Effects of Equality in “Harrison Bergeron”

Kyle Chandler Professor T. Payne side 1102 4 February 2013 Effects of luciferity in Harrison Bergeron Harrison Bergeron, written by Kurt Vonnegut focuses on the idea of physical and mental equality, which is controlled by the government in the family 2081 the strong be forced to wear hindrances which hinder their abilities, the intellectual ar forced to be unintelligent due to a radio vector that wont allow the individual to judge. Vonnegut uses satirical tone and places this apologue in the future, to show how come up equality would not work.Not only does complete equality sound absurd it removes the faculty for individuals to be different. Individuality core having a quality that fractures one individual from an separate. This means that by having total equality, there is a loss of individuality. In Kurt Vonneguts story Harrison Bergeron, Vonneguts satirical, dystopian society in which everyone is medium, presents the idea that handicaps that constitute equality to a fault eliminates individuality, along with self-worth. end-to-end Harrison Bergeron every member of society is equal. With the use of handicaps no person can be above average intellect, strength or even appeal.Vonnegut uses sacred scripture choice that promotes this society is a badinage excogitation early in the story. The Year Was 2081, and everybody was finally equal (Vonnegut 7). By throwing in the adjective finally, Vonnegut claims that it should have happened sooner, so far as the story goes on it becomes obvious that nothing is attractive about total equality. He opens the bit paragraph by introducing the two chief(prenominal) grammatical cases, George and Hazel. Vonnegut to a fault promotes his satire when the main records keep losing train of thought due to the fact that George has a handicap that keeps him from mobilizeing too much and Hazel is of average information. There were p wile on Hazels cheeks, only if shed forgotten for the snatch what they were a bout (Vonnegut 7). Having the major power to cry and then no long-term computer storage the reasoning for it is not only below average news show, but also inhumane. By showing that the Hazel does not even have the intelligence to remember something that brings enough emotion to produce tears, Vonnegut presents how these handicaps could not possibly be an improvement to the future because to be truly equal you have to be the same as the least intelligent, least strong, and least attractive.He also uses a mocking tone when referring to Georges son Harrison. In the story George starts to think about his abnormal son who is in jail but cannot think about it long due to the mental handicap (9). The author uses the word abnormal satirically because Harrison is a genius and an athlete and way above average in every manner(10). The use of satire in Vonneguts story promotes that handicaps eliminate individuality by making each component the same. By creating total equality in this socie ty, it abolishes the self-worth of the individuals.People gain self-worth by having a quality about them that makes them superior to others, whether it is their intelligence, a hobby they are impregnable at, or a skill they have acquired. In Harrison Bergeron it is no longer possible to have superior qualities and Vonnegut shows this when the main characters are watching a dance recital on television. Hazel states that the dance was nice yet in reality they werent really very near no better than whateverone else would have been, anyway (8). This shows that even if the dancers were talented they could not be proud of their talents or display it due to the handicaps.With no reason for individuals to be proud of themselves there is no longer a need for earth to grow. This normality not only ruins dancing as an art but also ruins all other forms of art too. When the musicians play in Harrison Bergeron it is average until the protagonist Harrison, comes in and strips them of their h andicaps for a short amount of time (12). The ability to be limitedive and different is one of the sole reasons behind art when it comes to musicians and dancers. Artists lose all self-worth that comes with their talent when they can no longer express it.What is the point in developing a skill, if the handicap on it is middling going to be increased? Similarly the individuals absence seizure of self-worth is mainly due to the vacancy of individuality. Handicaps controlling peoples mental and physical ability removes individuality for every human being. With individuality being a character quality that key outes them from others, people no longer have the any qualities that separate them from others. Vonnegut shows this with the main character George, even though his intelligence is way above normal, George has a little mental handicap in his ear (7).Instead of having his intelligence which sets him apart from the normal members of society, the oppressive society that yearns for e quality has diminished his individuality. Throughout the whole story there is only one hopeful mount in which individuality is achieved. Harrison Bergeron, the outcast who breaks the law by not victimization handicaps when he is incredibly intelligent, strong, and good looking, breaks out of jail and gives the audience a small glimpse of hope. He goes on public television and exclaims that he is the new emperor and that he is a greater ruler than any man who ever lived (12).Even though Harrison is a bad guy towards other characters, he stands for good in the story because he is the only character with individuality and the ability to remove equality. This glimpse of hope does not live long though because the Handicapper General, the head of the police force, comes in and kills George. The satirical tone in Kurt Vonneguts story Harrison Bergeron demonstrates that handicaps throughout the story are not actually an improvement, because they remove the individuals ability to distingui sh themselves from others.The restrictions that are placed on people hinder their intellect, strength, and appeal, keeping everyone equal but at the same time, displaying a lack of freedom, self-worth, and individuality. Vonneguts satire tone also exaggerates the idea of equality being a good thing, showing that total equality violates human rights. By setting Harrison Bergeron in the future, Vonnegut shows how total equality would be undesirable to the audience. Works Cited Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr. Harrison Bergeron 1961. delightful to the Monkey House. New York Dial Trade Paper Backs, 2010. 7-14. Print.