Comparing Utopia In Animal Farm And Harrison Bergeron

A State of Utopia is unattainable, due to the inherent flaws in humanity. The texts Animal Farm by George Orwell, and 1984 by George Orwell, explore the impossibility of achieving utopia, due to the allure of power. While Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut explores the paradoxical, the unachievable nature of utopia, as our true identity is stripped away at the totalitarian idea of utopia. These texts reveal how a perfect world cannot exist, due to the imperfection of humanity.

Utopia cannot be achieved, due to the allure of power. Animal Farm by George Orwell depicts the idea that our desire to obtain power overwhelms our other values, such as the utopian need for equality. The animals overthrow their

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The initial principle of how “all animals are equal” is contrasted with “but some are more equal than others” which unveils the inherent contradiction within the farms supposed utopa. Using this, Orwell juxtaposes the alleged equality and the actual inequality that occurs, reminding readers that the desire to have power is inherent, therefore rendering the possible attainment of true equality and utopia impossible. Similarly, the exploration of the allure of power in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, also exposes the unattainability of utopia. As the boys on the isolated island attempt to establish a civilised, equal society, the breakdown of their civilisation underscores the fragility of human morality in the face of power. Despite initially establishing rules to maintain the ideal society, Jack's growing obsession with dominance and control shows how the allure of power gets in the way of this, as he declares, "Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong – we hunt." Jack’s ideals symbolise the inherent tension between individual ambition and the values behind a perfect, equal society. Although they

When totalitarian governments impose regimes that achieve their idea of an ideal society, it deprives us of our individuality and contradicts the true meaning of utopia. The utopia depicted in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, illustrates the loss of identity that occurs when we sacrifice individuality for uniformity. The novel is set in a world where utopia is aimed to be achieved by placing physical handicaps on citizens who are superior to what the totalitarian government deems ”average.” The text opens with the narrator saying, “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else.” The repetition of the phrase “nobody was” highlights the extent to which our individuality and identity is suppressed in the pursuit of utopia. Readers can then see that the totalitarian pursuit of utopia involves a loss of diversity and identity, which is why it cannot truly work. When George “toys” with the notion that maybe dancers shouldn’t be handicapped. [He doesn’t] get very far without it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts.” Vonnegut uses imagery in the way that a noise “scatters his thoughts” to depict to readers the struggles that George faces, as it is not possible for him to live and think as an individual. The government is always controlling him, as they affect how he thinks and breaks apart any thoughts