Compare Harrison Bergeron And The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

Individuals are the building blocks of society, but they can’t dictate the way society flows. In the short stories “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson and “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut, and the theories of enlightenment philosophers, individuals can not change society. Tessie Hutchinson from “The Lottery,” tried to persuade her village that the tradition was wrong, but she faced death. While, Harrison from “Harrison Bergeron,” tried to overthrow society's ideas, through atrocious actions. The philosophers believed that the governors of society should be responsive and secure rights for the people. With this intention in mind, an individual wouldn’t change society because it is built around the individuals. Thus, individuals can not change their society because they don’t have power in numbers, they will be condemned by society if they try, and they shouldn’t need to change society if it is built to represent. An individual can not change society because he/she faces the

The theories of many enlightenment philosopher suggests that the governors of society are meant to represent the individuals. If each individual is meant to be represent than there is no place for change. “Representation ensures that governments are responsive to the people” (Handout). This emphasizes that the government is made to satisfy each individual’s will. So if each individual’s requirements are meant, then there should be no need for change; thus meaning an individual can’t change anything because there is nothing needed to be changed. However, if an individual wanted to change in a structured based society, than he/she is just being selfish. He/she is doing it because it benefits himself and not the whole. This ties in with Rousseau’s idea that individual wills should be a less priority than the supreme goal. A well structured society based on individuals, will not need any form of