Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron

Harrison, the main character from “Harrison Bergeron” written by Kurt Vonnegut, is a fourteen year old boy who must live everyday of his life with constraints that restrict him from freedom and independence. In this short story, citizens of the dystopian society live during a time where equality restricts every aspect of human life. However, Harrison is aware of the flaws and strives to change the society’s view on life. The second character Rainsford from the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell is a skillful hunter who finds himself on an remote island where he is forced to play a game which determines life or death. Rainsford is able to be rational and use his intelligence to ultimately win the game and survive. Both Harrison

He is deemed as highly dangerous since he is the epitome of all desirable human traits which is why so many constraints were enforced upon him such as 300 pound weights and goggles that make him half blind. Unlike Rainsford, Harrison deals with his constraints by fighting against without any rational thought. Despite knowing that removing his handicaps will result in his inevitable death,”[He] tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds”(Vonnegut). We see how Harrison savagely abolishes his dreadful constraints in an attempt to escape the injustice of his world. By doing this, Harrison looks more like an animal rather than a human as he does not take into consideration of his actions. Although Harrison was finally able to rid himself of his constraints, his decision was met with consequences. As a result of Harrison fighting back without any thought,”Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double- barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor” (Vonnegut). Unlike Rainsford, Harrison does not survive which is seen when he, the Emperor, gets shot by the Handicapper General after he liberates

Rainsford deals with the problem by using his experience and knowledge to defeat the general’s game in which he has to survive for three nights while being hunted. Instead of running away from the problems and trying to hide, Rainsford uses his skill to ultimately beat Zaroff in his own game. Rainsford’s ability to reason is seen when “he got a grip on himself, stopped, and [took] stock of himself and the situation. He saw that straight flight was futile; inevitably it would bring him face to face with the sea.”(Connell) This incident, when Rainsford has just began the game has to think logically and quickly as every second matters. He must do whatever he can to fool the experienced General. The fact that Rainsford is able to reason under such pressure while being hunted down makes his effort exceptional. Despite being constrained on an island, Rainsford is still able to survive as he realizes that “Twenty feet below him the sea rumbled and hissed. Rainsford hesitated. He heard the hounds. Then he leaped far out into the sea. . . .” (Connell). Rainsford must make a life deciding choice as he finds himself trapped with killer hounds and the fierce ocean raging below him. Rainsford realizes that his only option is to jump which he does. The general consideres the game to be over but is surprised when sees Rainsford waiting for him. As a result, the General has himself killed while Rainsford