Similarities Between The Lottery And Harrison Bergeron

“[Blindly] following ancient customs and traditions does not mean that the dead are alive, but that the living are dead”, (Ibn Khaldun). Khaldun is implying that people act like they are dead since they don’t speak up or say what they really feel about the tradition. In fact, his quote is related to “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the “winner” is stoned to death by everyone in the town. Secondly, “The Hunger Games” directed by Gary Ross, children are picked out of a lottery from each district to fight to the death. Lastly, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution were passed that the people in this new world are all “equal”. All in all, “The Lottery”, “Hunger Games”, and “Harrison Bergeron”,

In the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, touches people on how following traditions could become a bad outcome if it is implemented incorrectly. According to the story there were 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments of the Constitution were passed in the year of 2081, “They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else” (Vonnegut Jr 1). The people who lives in that society who are born “above-average” are physically handicapped, people who are smarter than the “average” one must wear a radio in his or her ear to prevent one from having an unfair mental advantage, and lastly, an exceptionally beautiful one has to wear a horrible mask, so they are no better

As Old Man Warner went through the crowd, he said, “Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery, seventy-seventh time” (Jackson 5). As a matter of fact, he is the oldest person in the town who really values the lottery. He follows it, as the generations before him used to do. According to his actions he is not afraid of the consequences that may happen in the future. As it has always been practiced in the society, without really questioning its actual meaning on why they are doing it. While Tessie keeps on complaining, “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (Jackson 8). She is protesting because her husband Bill, draws the marked strip of paper and she is saying that he didn’t have enough time to take any paper. As a result of this game, Tessie Hutchinson was the “winner” and she was killed with stones by her neighbours and even her own family. Concerning this, she is clearly willing to sacrifice her life for her family, that resulted in a bloody consequences. The people in that society have demonstrated, that they have no courage and power to say their own opinions and they do not realize what they are doing until they experience