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How Did Kurt Vonnegut Write Harrison Bergeron

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Author Kurt Vonnegut who is considered one of the great American authors, wrote during the contemporary period. He wrote "Harrison Bergeron", in 1961. in this work,, we can see evidence of the characteristics, themes and style identifies with the contemporary movement which was extant in American letters between 1960's and present time. Kurt Vonnegut wrote during this time period of American literature, and as such, remains one of the most identifiable and iconic writers of his time.
Writer Kurt Vonnegut was born on November 11, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana. One of the first books that started Kurt's carrier that he wrote was the "Player piano"; this book was first published in 1952, the "Player piano" took on a big part of corporate culture …show more content…

"Harrison Bergeron" deals with describing our world in the year 2081, and how everyone is equal in every which way to one another physically, under the law, and under the eyes of God; and this all accrued because of the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments of the constitution. The story starts to describe a normal peaceful life when on the month of April the 14 year old son of a man and women named George and Hazel gets taken away from them; while Hazel is mentally average, George is above average so consequently he is monitored by the government to control the way he uses his mentality. He was controlled by a sharp noise in his ear that blasts every twenty minutes, coming from the radio in his ear inserted by government. Anyone regarded higher that everyone else was put under a handicap to make them equal to the rest of the people. On one late afternoon when Hazel an George where watching the ballet on television both George and two of the eight ballerinas that also have a handicap hear a sharp sound, when a sudden interruption for a news bullet interrupts. The news bullet warns people of Harrison Bergeron, George and Hazels son, it warned the people of his escape from jail; the news cast gave his physical descriptions. Right after they all started to feel the ground shake at the studio, when all they all realize it was Harrison,

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“The American Library Association listed the book as the 46th most banned or challenged book of the first decade of the 21st century.” (Greene, 2014, para.14) Slaughterhouse-Five had been bashed since it release in March 1969 due to its use of profane language and vivid descriptions of disturbing scenes. It has been banned from multiple schools and libraries all over the world. However, banning this book is only sparring a person from a great book.

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The narrative "Harrison Bergeron" is a piece of dystopian fiction wherein the government decides to enforce complete equality between its citizens. Although the story is told from a third person limited point of view, the story mainly focuses on Harrison, a fugitive of the law. George and Hazel, the parents of Harrison, are the only characters the author has omniscient insight on. As a result of striving for complete equality the government has complete control over people's actions and thoughts to be certain no one has an "unfair advantage" over others by making them wear handicaps. In Kurt Vonnegut's story, "Harrison Bergeron," symbolism, tone, and irony develop the theme of how complete equality is impossible and undesirable to achieve.

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Though Vonnegut has to hide his true feelings behind satire for the majority of “Harrison Bergeron,” we may get an indication of his true intent in George’s statement “pretty soon we’d be right back to the dark ages again”(Vonnegut 228) if handicaps were eliminated. Hattenhauer points out that Vonnegut’s non-fiction stories are consistently leftist (387). Vonnegut dedicated his book, Hocus Pocus, to Eugene Debs, and used Debs’ quote, “While there is a lower class I am in it” (Hattenhauer 387). Debs’ quote is evident as to where Vonnegut’s views lie. “Vonnegut is considered to be a liberal thinker, not consistent with libertarian and conservative views” (Stuckey 85).

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There are many ways an author can convey the message of any story. Elements such as the Plot, Conflict, Character/Characterization, Setting, Symbolism, Narration, and Imagery are used in these ways. For example, in the In the story "Harrison Bergeron", the author Kurt Vonnegut uses the characterization, and the conflict to communicate the message to the reader that Uniformity and strict laws lead to a loss of personal freedom and individuality. Vonnegut uses the element of characterization.

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For example Hazel and George’s fourteen year old son (Harrison) being arrested, yet they show no sorrow or even have any recollection of this event. Harrison Bergeron is depicted and referred to as a “superhuman”  by explaining how he “tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper”. By saying things like “wet tissue paper” and “Snapped like celery” Vonnegut emphasis his power and masculinity. However, despite the immense strength Harrison now possess his first choice action is to dance a ballet. Furthermore, Bergeron is shot and killed during this dance.

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The main character in the short story “Harrison Bergeron,” written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, is a fourteen-year-old boy named Harrison Bergeron. He escaped jail, where he was detained for suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. He is committed to become the Emperor, but not everything went as planned. In the story, Harrison Bergeron expressed that he was talented, strong willed, and extremely strong. Harrison Bergeron was quite talented.

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It’s a day that would start a series of events that would change literature forever. So it goes. November 11, 1922, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis Indiana Edith Vonnegut gives birth to one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, he is named after his father, Kurt Vonnegut Sr. And So it goes. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was a man of many shades,

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Then, Harrison escaped jail, interrupted a television program, and removed all his handicaps. Finally, the Handicap General was afraid of what Harrison might do without his handicaps, so she shoots him. Therefore, Harrison Bergeron’s motivation of the government to remove handicaps reveals how not everyone can, and not

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Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut is dystopian story, where everybody was equal physical and mentally. Under the control of United States Handicapper General, handicapped devices was put on, to make nobody stronger, smarter, or good - looking than anyone. In this story, Vonnegut used satire to show that extreme equality can be dangerous by using exaggeration, humor, and tone. Vonnegut satirized Harrison Bergeron and showed exaggeration, where he was considered extremely dangerous for being genius and athlete. During the news, 1st ballerina exaggerated about Harrison ,” has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.

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“Harrison Bergeron” is a short fiction written by Kurt Vonnegut, the story is set in the year 2081, and it talks about a futuristic society where all people are equal. No one is smarter, beautiful or stronger than the other, and if someone happens to be better than the others they find themselves compelled by The United States Handicapper General to wear what they call “handicaps” in order to bring down their abilities to the most basic levels as the others. Throughout the story, Vonnegut expresses a strong and vigorous political and social criticism of some historical events in the US during 1960s such as the Cold War and Communism, television and American Culture and Civil Rights Movement. “Harrison Bergeron” was published in 1961 during that time several events were happening around the world in general and in the US in specific which was engaged in a series of political and economic crisis with the communist Soviet Union know as The

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Equality is a great idea that we should strive for and achieve; however, being made equal physically and mentally by the government could be very unfair. People should still have characteristics that make us different. One can be diverse but still equal to his neighbor. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s use of point of view, conflict, and imagery in his short story “Harrison Bergeron,” illustrates how difficult living in a world where everyone is the same would be.

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The progressive movement that took place from 1890-1920 aimed to correct injustices in American life as well as restore economic opportunities. Through the hard work and persistence of all people involved, this movement was fairly successful in achieving its main goals of protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, and creating economic reform. Many people in this time fought to protect social welfare. More specifically, the intense and harsh working conditions for industrial workers.

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Analysis Essay on “Harrison Bergeron” The author of “Harrison Bergeron” is Kurt Vonnegut. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 11, 1922. Vonnegut is well known for his satirical literary style, as well as the science-fiction elements in much of his work. He first published “Harrison Bergeron” in October 1961.

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Harrison Bergeron, a story written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, shows a society where everyone is the same, no one is- or allowed to be, better than anyone else. The story takes place in a futuristic society during 2081. The main two people in this story are Hazel and George Bergeron. George, along with most people, has sacks filled with birdshot, and a handicap radio.

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The short story “Harrison Bergeron”, was first published in October 1961 issue of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Some other works Kurt Vonnegut has written are, “Player Piano”, “The Sirens of Titan”, “Mother Night”, and “Cats Cradle” are just a few of the novels Vonnegut has written. Kurt Vonnegut has drawn on facts and incidents in his own life in his writings. Kurt’s short stories range from visions of future societies, that are extensions of modern societies. Many of his writings are ones that are science fiction.

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