Known for publishing numerous satirical works, Kurt Vonnegut continues this writing trend in his short story “Harrison Bergeron”. Vonnegut writes about a dystopian society in the future and although the events in the story are serious, it can be found humorous when comparing the story…
Harrison Bergeron Essay Examples and Topics
by Kurt Vonnegut
Ancient German philosopher, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg once said, “Equality which we demand is the most tolerant degree of inequality”. For centuries, humankind has worked towards an equal society, but at what expense and limit? In the short story,” Harrison Bergeron” Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. depicts a…
“The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else.”(Kurt Vonnegut Jr.) This is a quote from both…
“Two men are accused of murdering a man in an Ogden transient camp after, police say, they went there to “find and harass homeless people.” (Godfrey). “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive…
In thermodynamics entropy is the degree of disorder or uncertainty in a system. The world is full of examples that the universe tends towards highest entropy. For example, a campfire shows solid wood inevitably turn into ash and smoke, signifying the foreseeable end of stability,…
Someone in some way is suffering or being affected even though traditions are being followed and equality is being sought. In the short stories “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula Le Guin, and “The Lottery” by…
K. V’s HB, is a satiric prediction of the dangers of equality and mediocrity, and offers a dark insight into the development of a deliberately misguided society. A few simple characters, mainly George and Hazel Bergeron, provide an example for the blueprints for an entirely…
In the first scene, Kurt Vonnegut introduces the characters and the setting of the story. The story takes place in the year 2081, and everyone is equal in every aspect. The scene opens with an intellectually differentiated couple, George and Hazel, watching television. Through the…
Is there really an equal society or is just a myth? A brief story of ‘Harrison Bergeron’ firmly centers around people with traditional than higher intelligence by depicting a contention between ‘Harrison Bergeron’, the skilled individual and the ‘government’ which makes the whole society equivalent…
Dystopian literature is often defined as a fictional genre that depicts the society to be unfair and setting. Dystopian literature has been around for a while now. Dystopian literature usually depicts the future of society, whether it’s the lives of the citizens or the overall…
Kurt Vonnegut’s style of writing often leads toward a dark and funny science fiction and literary style as well as classic and cool, which influences his many novels and short stories. With the style of science fiction and initiating equality throughout society, Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison…
Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, Harrison Bergeron, features the dangers of government control combined with individuals’ obliviousness. Vonnegut proceeds to foresee the aftereffects of such a move. The most striking topic is that of absence of opportunity in American culture. Vonnegut likewise explains how loss of…
A world where everyone is equally beautiful, intelligent, and strong is an ideal world that everyone fantasizes about and strives for. In this world, not only would no one have to worry about being judged by their physical appearance or intelligence, but everyone would equal….
Completely Equal Society is a Myth Since the genesis of time people have strived to achieve complete equality. We have tried to give people “equal rights” nonetheless; it has failed to create perfect uniformity. Now imagine the world where the government has created rules and…
When shopping at a thrift store, sometimes one may find a specific piece right away, but most of the time one must dig through racks of clothing to find the right piece. When contrasting characters from different stories, the same logic applies; opposite qualities in…
Kurt Vonnegut
United States
English
Dystopia, science fiction, political fiction
1961
Harrison Bergeron, George Bergeron, Hazel Bergeron, The Ballerina, Diana Moon Glampers
Harrison Bergeron' is a story based on a society whose attempt to achieve perfection, but it goes awfully wrong.