Vonnegut's Limitations In A Futuristic Society
the idea of equality was taken to the extreme. Satire is also used to exaggerate how awful equality is to persuade readers to believe that total equality will violate human rights. Kurt Vonnegut also uses symbols such as handicaps which make everyone equal and Harrison Bergeron to display the lack of freedom present in a world of total equality.
Knowledge is power, ignorance is surrender. Both stories serve as prime examples of the power that knowledge holds and consequently how depriving its citizens can be a weapon to counter uprising, because one who is unaware of any misconduct can not combat it. While both authors use two different approaches they achieve similar goals. In 1984 Orwell demonstrates how the government, in his dystopian society, attempts to eradicate not only individuality, but also intelligent thought process through the elimination of complex words as well as synonyms and antonyms. In “Harrison Bergeron” Vonnegut achieves the same effect by different means , mental handicap devices.
The story reveals, "George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times" (Vonnegut). This demonstrates the suppression of individuality and the elimination of any advantages that could make a person stand out. Both stories illustrate the severe consequences individuals face when they deviate from societal
Hazel, who is of average intelligence, urges George to take off his handicaps, stating that she doesn't “care if [he] is unequal to [her]” (2). This depicts the actual
In the story Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut explores the idea of total equality. His use of irony which is present for the duration of the entire story reveals the concept that equality may not be as good as it seems. The unpredictable ending, surprising situations, and shocking character reactions all serve as illustrations to help convey Vonnegut’s theme. The society Vonnegut creates is ironic because it is based off the United States-- a place which values freedom-- but in the pursuit of equality, citizens lose their freedom to be themselves. Through the creation of the handicap system above average citizens are required to wear physical and mental handicaps in order to maintain a fair playing field for all.
Hazel said to George, “ Take the handicapped off, it 's only here so that you can relax.” George said, “If that how it was, we 're all going back to judging and comparing.” Vonnegut’s thoughts on individualism are that being individual and acting a way that is unique doesn 't fit into our society and won 't be accepted. In the story, a “rebel” decided to take of his handicapped, and to become different and be free in how he is but he was brought down and shot dead by a officer.
In John Steinbeck’s compelling novel Of Mice and Men, the courageous George Milton acts as an outstanding man by portraying valued characteristics in order to succeed in his life situation. George takes responsibility for Lennie’s and his actions and uses his intelligence to help both of them succeed as much as they possibly can. Loyalty is a greatly cherished trait that George possesses through several friendships he has. George participates in several relationships that revolve around the admirable quality of loyalty that George has. He remains loyal to childish Lennie through all of his foolish mistakes.
Examine how far George and Lennie are loyal to each other throughout 'Of mice and men' In the novella 'Of Mice and Men', by the well-known author, John Steinbeck, the reader is introduced to a varied range of different characters on the ranch; within this realm loyalty between George and Lennie plays a significant role in the lonely itinerant lifestyle. The characters in this short novel act in a world of their own, having no connections to any other type of society; through this Steinbeck can strongly depict the theme of loyalty and friendship in dire situations during this period of time. During the 1930's, at the ranch, a predominant role of intelligent white-males is seen to retain power over lesser groups of people, of which Lennie is portrayed to be this part as he is mentally disabled. Despite this George and Lennie strike up a friendship of loyalty: showing firm and constant support. ' Guys like us got no fambly...they ain't got nobody in the worl' that gives a hoot in hell about 'em' sums up the reason why their loyalty and companionship is so vital and special to each other.
To imagine a world where everyone's intelligence is alike is quite worrisome. The character known as George is introduced as a remarkably intelligent and strong man, however he is
The same goes for George even though we don't know his appearance we know he was an intellectual person because he falls into the same category of being born with a great mind. “and George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. ”(232). His thoughts were being disrupted through a device , this is considered to be fair to the average thinkers. Vonnegut Jr. portrays his ideas towards the illusion of equality because he mentions equality at the beginning of the story, explaining the wonders of everyone being equal in their own individuality.
“The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal”1 is a statement that in the mouth of the American writer should sound at least victorious. However, Kurt Vonnegut in the opening line of his dystopian short story Harrison Bergeron creates a highly ironical declaration, which he later ridicules by the following story. The author who gained his fame by writing the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, describes the world supposedly equal and free, but entirely bound by the laws that command the lives of people. That describes also fairly well the second short story 2 B R 0 2 B, which title refers to the famous phrase “to be or not to be”2 from William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, as mentioned in the text, “the trick telephone number that people who didn 't
Imagine a society in which everyone is equal, sounds perfect right? You would be wrong in this case of forced equality. In Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron," Harrison is a one in a million intellectual who is taken away by the government at the age of fourteen. Typically, those with knowledge are handicapped to become average. He eventually becomes incarcerated on "suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government" (Vonnegut 3).
Once a person is introduced into different ways of thinking, they feel that they are restricted to think in other ways. This restriction, is the handicap. The handicap prevents George from thinking too much. From using his ability to think in a different way. In this society, many people appear that they are not open minded.
George, Hazel’s husband, has been handicapped with two things: an earphone that administers a sound every 20 seconds and a handicap bag filled with forty-seven pounds of birdshot. While this might be a lot, George continues to follow the law. “Two years in prison and a two thousand dollar fine for every ball I take out… I don’t call that a bargain” (40). Hazel fails at convincing her husband to rest his handicaps because George fears the government and their capabilities. This being said, Vonnegut uses characterization to display George’s loss of the will to fight.
Conformity is something that humans have been doing for a long time. Such conformity has lead to negative outcomes. This idea is explored through “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden. In these two texts conformity eliminates individuality and causes the society to be weakened.
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