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Harrison Bergeron Compare And Contrast Essay

708 Words3 Pages

In the two short stories," Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut and "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury, it can be determined that people should be allowed to have freedom instead of being completely restricted. Throughout both of these stories, there are a few similarities that prove this argument; however, at the same time, the concept of having limited freedom is expressed differently through varying plot elements. First of all, a major similarity between the two stories is how people defy the rules that are forced upon them in order to attain freedom. For example, in "Harrison Bergeron", Harrison was imprisoned at a young age due to his vastly superior powers and intellect compared to the rest of society, which was designed to be average. Harrison …show more content…

Despite the fact that he already had many other privileges, he still believed that his intentions to seek freedom in the nursery were justified, since he states: "What's wrong with Africa, father?" (Bradbury 300) It is proven from these instances that people will never believe that their methods of obtaining freedom are wrong, while other people will differ in their perspectives and reactions to these actions. In "Harrison Bergeron", this argument is proven when Harrison fought for his freedom by escaping from jail, which the government responded by killing him. However, Peter fought for the rights of the nursery in "The Veldt" by being disobedient, thus causing the parents to revoke his rights completely instead of outright silencing him. To conclude, freedom is invaluable to the lives of humans, thus, people would be willing to do anything just to be able to possess and secure it. While society can still set rules in place, they should do so in a method that still allows people to possess social freedoms, while still living in an orderly and safe

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Ray Bradbury 's "The Pedestrian" and Kurt Vonnegut 's "Harrison Bergeron" are similar and different. Both short stories are told in a future perspective “The Pedestrian” is told in A.D. 2053 and “Harrison Bergeron” is told in 2081. Both stories do have authority over the people, but in “Harrison Bergeron” it is more severe than in “The Pedestrian.” The differences between both stories are that in “Harrison Bergeron,” George and Hazel could not think of what was going on around them. In “The Pedestrian,” Mr. Leonard Mead would have all the time to think of anything he would like.

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The two stories, “Harrison Bergeron” and Fahrenheit 451, both have common themes. The common themes of the stories may include; our reliance on technology can spiral out of control if we let it, knowledge is joyful and painful, and that we can be confined by our own self-censorship. All of these themes are exhibited throughout both stories frequently. Whether it is as Montag has conflict with his wife over books or as Harrison’s parents forget right from wrong in their society. In Fahrenheit 451, their technology definitely gets out of control.

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Imagine being equal to everyone else in the country. Everyone would be average; no one would be smarter, better looking, or stronger than anyone else. This is what life was like for young Harrison and his parents in the futuristic short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. In Harrison Bergeron, the movie, the main focus is on Harrison and how he influences the plot.

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789 Words | 4 Pages

Harrison Bergeron was a book written in 1961 that portrayed an abnormal child defying the dystopian government; in 2009 a movie was made, based off of it called 2081 that changed the character both physically and morally. The differences in how Harrison Bergeron, the main character, appears in each story changes how the audience perceives his morality. These changes are easily highlighted in Harrison’s age, dialogue, and appearance. The tone of the story is also changed, resulting in similar changes to what the audience interprets. As both stories continue these differences become more and more apparent and by the end, there is a clear split in what the audience ‘takes away’.

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387 Words | 2 Pages

In a lot of stories, the characters are what makes a “great story,” but most characters a very different from each other, just like in the three stories, The Sniper, The Most Dangerous Game and Harrison Bergeron. They all share the same trait. Even though the characters share the same trait, they differ in their own ways. A way the Characters all share a similar trait is that Rainsford, Harrison and The Sniper are all very “brave.” One way the Harrison is very brave is that he stood up against a government who kills and locks up people that are “over average” “(different or better than normal).”

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“Repent Harlequin Said the Tictockman” by Harlan Ellison wrote in 1965 is about a time keeping government trying to achieve complete efficiency. The 1961 science fiction short story “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., is about complete equality, disabling humanity from success. By examining elements of character analysis, tone, plot, setting, and diction, readers can see that these two dystopian stories can be compared and contrasted. “Repent Harlequin…” and “Harrison Bergeron” take place in alternate futures where the government has either taken control of everyone’s schedules or removed things that would make them unequal. Both stories are led by an antagonist and by someone who rebelled against them, but eventually, the rebellion fails and as far as we know the oppression goes on.

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550 Words | 3 Pages

Can an overbearing government/society cause an individual to break down mentally and or physically? The thought of the government having some control over our lives can be seen as overbearing but to others it can be seen as a bubble of protection, George Orwell’s 1984 can be compared by a character’s act of rebellion due to the lack of freedom and contrasted by the repercussions of an individual rebelling to Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron”. The act of rebelling is perceived as such a negative practice in both of the dystopian societies, on the occasion that one rebels it cause for drastic measures. In 1984 Winston Smith rebelled against Big Brother by doing whatever he pleased.

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In the story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Vonnegut and the story, “The Pedestrian” by Bradbury both of the stories warn that if the government has too much power and control over the citizens the society will fall apart and cause chaos within the community. In the text the author states, “ The minute people start cheating on laws, what do you think happens to society?” (Vonnegut 3) another piece of evidence that goes along with the one above is, “Reckon it’d fall all apart,” said Hazel.” (Vonnegut 3) Rules are set in place so that everyone stays in check and the community doesn’t just do whatever they want to do and put everyone else's lives at risk. Even though rules are a necessary part of society doesn’t mean that citizens shouldn't have at least a

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Have you ever wondered to yourself what the future holds? What technology will be invented, or how we will get around? Harrison Bergeron tells a story about the future; not one of flying cars and robots taking over, but rather equality. In this futuristic essay it is described that people have certain advantages over other people according to looks, strength, and intelligence. However the government wanted everyone to be equal to one another to lessen discrimination.

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Single Paragraph Essay “ Harrison Bergeron ” “ Harrison Bergeron ,” written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. focuses on equality — physically andmentally — strongly controlled by the government in the year 2081; the beautiful are forced tolook ugly, the physically skilled are required to wear weights. With these handicaps makingeveryone so equal, the world became very different, odd, and average. But the government hasno right or reason to push the whole world to be “…equal every which way.” (203) To suppress someone’s natural looks or physical talents is not only wrong to natural human rights, but it is also illegal, and for very good reason: everyone is different.

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719 Words | 3 Pages

Compare and Contrast “Harrison Bergeron” It’s 2081 where everyone is supposed to be equal, but no one is truly equal. “Harrison Bergeron” the text and the video had similarities and differences. In the text, Harrison seemed like more of a sweet little angel whereas the video shows that Harrison is not much of a sweet angel with his actions. Both the text and video “Harrison Bergeron” were interesting.

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1604 Words | 7 Pages

They attempt to create equality by making everyone unequal to each other. Society accepts these rules, however one boy, who is exceptionally amazing at everything, attempts to change the social norms. Both texts, use the irony built into the setting and characters to expand on the story. In Bradbury’s “The Veldt,” and Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”, situational irony is utilized to create the

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1055 Words | 5 Pages

Laws are the key to having a well-mannered society. They are created with the intention of bringing good to the civilization. However, even actions with good intentions can end with devastating results. This is what occurs in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron”. “Harrison Bergeron” is about a dystopian- like future that has had citizens stripped of their individuality due to an Amendment.

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526 Words | 3 Pages

The story, Harrison Bergeron really shows the importance of diversity and for every individual to have a right to be unique. The government trying to make every thing completely fair is actually unfair to people who can 't get any excitement in a world like this. Limiting peoples thinking will also strongly slow any advances in technology, maybe even to a stop, so they might never solve some of the very important problems they face. Same with strength, if someones is in danger to an animal or a malfunctioning machine they will need to be able to escape. So really a world thats completely fair is impossible to create.

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1823 Words | 8 Pages

Kurt Vonnegut uses characterization to describe how the characters act in this society. Vonnegut also uses style to show how he uses science fiction and dystopia in “Harrison Bergeron”. The theme demonstrated in “Harrison Bergeron” is equality is not meant to make one person better than another. Kurt Vonnegut in “Harrison Bergeron”, demonstrates that equality based on characteristics is not a good thing for society. Harrison Bergeron is a short story based on the year 2081, where everybody is equal.

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