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Satire In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

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A stupid society can not be easily fixed. Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” brings humorous satire to a futurist science fiction story that exposes how far American society goes to legislate human equality. Nor can you make everyone equal by oppressing the most gifted and beautiful in society to preserve the equality dignity of the ugly and less able. In an effort to be fair, society had became ridiculously oppressive. People in society that were more talented, more beautiful, more athletic, stronger and more intelligent were made disabled to promote societal equality. Instead of allowing the stronger, smart and most beautiful people to enhance society with their talents these most extraordinary people in society were fitted …show more content…

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. For society to be more equal it needs to see the beauty in each person from the beauty of the smile of a fashion model to the beauty shining eyes of a Down syndrome athlete that had won a medal in the Special Olympics. Both individuals carry a full gamut of beauty. Hiding the smile of the fashion model by putting a bag over her eyes adds nothing or detracts nothing from the beauty of the face of a Down syndrome person. The satire in this story also burdened the strong and agile with weights. It was hilarious that George Bergeron the father of the hero was forced by law to wear sacks 75 lb sack of bird shot that were uncomfortable around his neck because he was strong and possibly a fast runner. Even as he relaxed at home to watch television he felt the obligation to wear the weights that were uncomfortable and confining. George’s wife recommended that he remove the weights to ease his discomfort at least at home. The Hazel the wife even recommended that George “Go on and rest the bag for a little while. I don’t care if you’re not equal to me for a while.” (Vonnegut Jr. 1329) The wife was not considered very smart and still recognized the problem &

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