Similarities Between 1984 And Harrison Bergeron

A dystopian society is an illusion of a perfect world but individuals aren’t allowed freedom, and are under constant surveillance. In George Orwell’s book 1984, the protagonist Winston lives in a society where they were under Big Brothers control and were watched by the thought police. In the short story Harrison Bergeron, written by Kurt Vonnegut, the society lived by equality using handicaps to regulate the above-average people. Dystopian literature – whether novel, short story or film – focuses on similar characteristics and themes.
The characteristics of a dystopian society include restricted freedom and not being able to expand your mind beyond the societal control. Restricted freedom was a similarity between the three pieces of literature.

Bureaucratic control is a society controlled by a mindless government through relentless regulation. In 1984, regulation went through punishment. “The ministry of Love, which maintained law and order,” (page 4.) They were punished for committing crimes such as thinking wrong. In Harrison Bergeron the handicap police punished people who didn’t follow handicap rules. “She fired twice, the Emperor and Empress were dead before they hit the floor,” (page 5, paragraph 2.) When they took off their handicaps, they broke regulation. In the movie Hunger Games, if you were chosen to do the games, you had to go unless somebody else stepped up. “I’ll take her place,” (Katniss, scene 2.) Someone had to go because of the regulations. All three pieces tied together to show bureaucratic control. The telescreen in the book 1984 showed technological control. “The telescreen recorded and transmitted simultaneously,” (page 6.) They had to listen to it all the time. Philosophical control was shown in Harrison Bergeron by the amendments passed for them to be made handicapped. “All equality due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments,” (paragraph 7.) Law cannot be broken. Corporate control in Hunger Games was showed by them being watched by everyone like a reality TV show. “Let the hunger games begin,” (scene 9.) They were thrown on media until the last one was standing. To keep control of a society is ultimate power amongst all, but there is always a protagonist that will rise. The dystopian protagonist is a person or a group of people who often feel trapped and question the society in which they live and recognize the negative concepts of the dystopian world. Questioning the existing social and political systems prevailed through the protagonist. Winston questioned O’Brien about his rule over other people. “You believe human beings are not fit to govern themselves…” (page 216.)