Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron

Kaylah Hampton

At the beginning of this semester, our class came to a consensus that for a film adaptation of a story to be successful, the filmmaker must remain true to certain aspects of the original text while taking some necessary liberties to enhance the story to create a well-rounded, compelling film. We also noted that some effects are more easily conveyed in the short story version, while others are more easily conveyed in film. In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and its film adaptation 2081 written and directed by Chandler Tuttle, there are both subtle and dramatic changes within each, as compared to each other, that influence their respective effectiveness. Though there is an abundance of similarities and differences

Thematically, though, the common theme of the danger of equality plays out differently in each version. In the movie, there is more focus upon Harrison and how he affects the setting, while the story focuses on Harrison’s parents and how the setting affects them. For example, in the film, at (7:41), we are first shown the physical appearance of Harrison Bergeron. Unlike the story, he is about twenty-six years old and he is free of any facial handicaps. In fact, his character strongly resembles that of Jesus Christ, and he even bears a yoke. As he takes over the stage, (9:40), he delivers a grand speech, detailing his six-year torture by the government because he is an “abomination to the able”, (10:40), and finishing by mentioning that he has installed a bomb underneath the theatre, immediately making himself an eventual martyr to the cause. The use of the bomb elicits an immediate emotional response, forcing the viewer to pay attention to what Harrison has to say. This is a major scene of the film and is necessary to convey that this “perfect society” may be

Hazel suggests that he take off the handicaps, even if only around the house, so that he can lounge. In response to this, George comments on the repercussions that would come if he attempted this and then details what would happen to society. He states, “…if I tried to get away with it, then other people would get away with it—and pretty soon we’d be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else” (Vonnegut 9). This dialogue between George and Hazel stresses the blind faith that society now follows—the faith that everything that is valid is equal. This instance of the fundamental theme of the story is communicated to the reader by demonstrating that George and Hazel are not capable of thinking for themselves because they simply do not want to—they are brainwashed. As a reader, this is a scary realization and it becomes further revealed what it is like to live in a society where everybody is the same and nobody is