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Breaking Identity Barriers

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Breaking the Barriers What is identity? How are identities formed? How much control does one have in molding their identity? Identity is the impression that one exhibits to the world. Principally, identity distinguishes a person by their qualities, beliefs, history and etc. Throughout an individual’s life, he/she focuses on developing an idiosyncratic set of values in order to develop a suitable sense of identity. There are countless factors that contribute towards the formation of one’s character. Generally, identity formation is shaped by the factor society which includes media, friends, family, and one’s surroundings. However, due to the complexity of the identity concept, people do not realize how some factors like society can alternate …show more content…

The border is symbolic since it demonstrates how individuals are forced to conform to one of the two nationalities. Though Laetita is neither American nor Canadian, she follows social norms related to nationalities in order to cross the border and therefore conceals her true identity as Blackfoot. This is evident as she is able to move across the boundary without any restrictions unlike her mother who at the border is persistent in claiming her identity to be Blackfoot and refuses to recognize herself as either American or Canadian. Therefore, adherence to societal norms and strict protocol allow Laetitia to fit into mainstream society, but results in her not embracing her true identity and diminishing her pride in culture. This is significant as it presents how society plays a massive role in constructing one’s values which can outweigh personal values and therefore lead to disintegration of cultural identity. Similar to “Borders”, Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” presents the struggle of representing one’s identity though the symbolism of handicaps. Through use of devices known as handicaps, people in the dystopian society are made equal. The handicaps recedes everyone’s personal strengths and qualities to …show more content…

In “Borders” the mother demonstrates defiance as she refuses to follow the terms of the society. In order to pass the Canadian-American border, it is required to declare your citizenship, whether American or Canadian. However, when the mother is asked about her citizenship, she repeatedly and adamantly states, “Blackfoot” (King 137). Despite the irritation of the authority figures and the possible threat of imprisonment and confinement, she neither acknowledges herself as Canadian or American. Her stubbornness and pride in culture therefore restricts her from crossing the border to Canada and the United States of America as she continues to stand her ground and express her identity as Blackfoot. This is evident as she does not conform to the restrictions of the society by remaining in the neutral grounds between the United States and Canada. Primarily, her defiant actions represent her conflicts with societal rules and norms in relation to nationality and identity which are significant as they deal with society urging her to concede with one of the nationalities that she is not. Aside from “Borders”, in the story “Harrison Bergeron”, the protagonist demonstrates resistance to society as he chooses to express his identity. Harrison stages a rebellion against the Handicapper General, which is evident through his defiant actions:

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In the short story Borders the author, Thomas King, shows the theme of control through the experience of the son and mother at the border. During the story, the mother wouldn’t give the guards their citizenship, so the guards wouldn’t let them through. Whenever a guard asked her about her citizenship, she would only respond, “Blackfoot.” For example, in paragraph 66-67 “Canadian side or American side?’ asked the guard. ’Blackfoot side,’ she said, “I’d be proud of being Blackfoot.

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332 Words | 2 Pages

Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” and Chandler Tuttle’s film “2081” reveal that the media will always bury and influence the truth to dissipate the bad. Harrison Bergeron focuses on a government-controlled society in which everyone is equal. Those who are above average were to wear handicaps, which limit their genius instincts and level them to the bare minimum. To live within equilibrium under society's rule, many have already succumbed to the ways of their perfect society. Harrison Bergeron disobeys this rule, as he is the focus of Vonnegut’s story.

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1134 Words | 5 Pages

In the story “Harrison Bergeron”, Kurt Vonnegut shows a clear understanding of a futuristic setting and how the government controls the individuals. Vonnegut shows and describes certain roadblocks that the government imposes on certain individuals. There is also a very strong use of character in this story. Character is defined as the mental or moral qualities distinctive to an individual. In the story “Harrison Bergeron”, there is a strong sense of futuristic setting that allows the characters to become more developed throughout the story.

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406 Words | 2 Pages

"Borders," written by Thomas King, delves into the poignant theme of identity preservation in the face of adversity. The plot revolves around a Blackfoot mother and her son's journey to reunite with their daughter Laetitia, who has relocated to Salt Lake City. The mother, who serves as the story's central figure, is determined to safeguard her Blackfoot identity as she crosses the American-Canadian border. Her unwavering determination to hold onto her cultural heritage, even in the face of external challenges, is depicted through her refusal to declare her citizenship as either Canadian or American. Instead, she claims her citizenship as Blackfoot, underscoring the significance of cultural and ethnic heritage in shaping an individual's self-perception.

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608 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout history, many powerful men have strived for equality- to eliminate the people and qualities they view as imperfect. The government agency Harrison fights against in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron”, works for the same goal, but in a different way. Harrison Bergeron rebels against a government who handicaps the unique, the intelligent, the beautiful, and the strong. However, despite their efforts, they can not conjure up handicaps which control him. Consequently, he escapes from imprisonment and revolts.

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792 Words | 4 Pages

Vonnegut: Harrison Bergeron symbolizes the hope and spark for individuality in a place where everyone is equal, he does not have the cowardness and the obedience like the others, he stands out strong smart and great looking, and a person who is hungry for power and drives to be the emperor, which is stated when he stood at the center of the studio and cries out “I am the Emperor!”. Harrison might sound power-mad but n his perspective it is very understandable why he felt that way in that kind of environment even though his boastfulness is exaggerated it is an expression of his defiance to outstand how Americans felt. When Harrison forcefully took off his handicaps it is to show the viewers also restraint that they also are of something more capable. However, in the end due to Harrison’s defiance, he gets shot by the government and suggests anyone who does the same actions as Harrison’s is outnumbered by the government.

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977 Words | 4 Pages

He then tears off all of his handicaps, revealing a large, seven-foot frame, a handsome face, and exceptional intelligence. Before he can convince all of the viewers to shake off their handicaps as well, the Handicapper general, Diana Moon Glampers, marches in and shoots Harrison. George and Hazel soon forget all about this incident due to the handicaps they have and return to “normal” life. In Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron,” the message is that excessive government control leads to oppression and ignorance, making people worse off than they started. One example in the text that shows that the government exercises too much control, making people have worse lives than previously, is by loading them up with weights around their neck if they are too strong.

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65 Words | 1 Pages

The story “Harrison Bergeron” conveys the conflicts between the needs and ideals of society and the realities of individuals by showing that individuals feel ruled out of society. Of course, this creates an “idealistic” society by countering out individuals. This is shown by “they were equal every which way” ( Vonnegut 101). This shows that nobody had any individuality. Therfore creating the conflict in this”utopia”.

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1109 Words | 5 Pages

Kristiana Alva Dr. Russell ENG 102 28 Feb 2020 Masking the Obvious To be equal to others, in terms of intelligence, appearance, and fitness, seems like the perfect solution to stop competition among citizens of the United States; however, Kurt Vonnegut contradicts this idea in his dystopian short story, “Harrison Bergeron.” Vonnegut uses irony, symbolism, and setting to portray how the danger of conformity lies in stripping people of their individuality.

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839 Words | 4 Pages

Harrison Bergeron In Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s story, “Harrison Bergeron,” literary elements symbolism, imagery, and tragedy reveal the author’s perspective on what society would be like if everyone was equal. Handicaps were a major part of the story “Harrison Bergeron.” The Handicaps symbolized how society is attempting to limit everyone to mediocrity. Of all of the handicaps, the body weight seemed to be the harshest.

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989 Words | 4 Pages

The characterization and symbols built off of Harrison Bergeron by Vonnegut entail the thought that if a person’s talents are hidden away from the public to create equality those things will seem as if they never existed but if a person has confidence in themselves they will be seen. Continuously, Harrison’s archetype reveals his fears, motives,

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608 Words | 3 Pages

In “Harrison Bergeron”, Vonnegut uses characterization, symbolism, and figurative language to satirize extreme equality in society. In “Harrison Bergeron,” the author satirizes extreme equality in society by using characterization. Vonnegut teaches the readers by showing them what the future could be like if equality is taken too literally. The government imposed handicaps that make the people in Vonnegut’s story all equal.

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1235 Words | 5 Pages

He is a genius, and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous’” (Vonnegut 3). In the society presented in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, the government tries to manipulate the appearance, physical strength, intelligence, and other talents or personal benefits of the people living there, to insure that everyone is “equal”. Harrison posed a threat to their perfectly equal dystopia by being born with many qualities that made him different from the other members of their society. With only suspicion that Harrison was plotting against their government, they locked him up so he no longer had the freedom to prove their suspicions true.

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1074 Words | 5 Pages

To portray these possibilities, Kurt Vonnegut emphasized on the importance of imagery to help the reader conceive the idea of a society where everybody was put on limitations and restrictions. In 1961, Vonnegut published “Harrison Bergeron” in which he interprets his own idea of conformity put in society by utilizing imagery to help the reader apprehend this dystopian characteristic. In Vonnegut’s world of a restricted society, all citizens are handicapped both physically and mentally. The main character, Harrison Bergeron, causes an uproar in public when he shows his display of frustration concerning the restrictions. In the short story, it is described that on stage, “Harrison’s scrap-iron handicaps crashed to the floor.

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955 Words | 4 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 people are equal. No one is smarter, beautiful or stronger than the other, and if someone happens to be better than the others they find themselves compelled by The United States Handicapper General to wear what they call “handicaps” in order to bring down their abilities to the most basic levels as the others. Throughout the story, Vonnegut expresses a strong and vigorous political and social criticism of some historical events in the US during 1960s such as the Cold War and Communism, television and American Culture and Civil Rights Movement. “Harrison Bergeron” was published in 1961 during that time several events were happening around the world in general and in the US in specific which was engaged in a series of political and economic crisis with the communist Soviet Union know as The

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