In a world with no individuality, is it possible for humanity to progress? In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” the author, Kurt Vonnegut, presents the idea of a conformed society in which everyone is totally equal; if one is superior to another, then they must wear a certain handicap to supress their talent. However, the flaw in this type of society is the loss of one’s identity and freedom. A conformed society technically wouldn’t be very equal because the government would still have power over the citizens and this could lead to a possibility of a dictatorship.
Also, there wouldn’t be any innovation within a conformed society because everyone would be equal and competition wouldn’t exist therefore society wouldn’t be able to progress. The author conveys that a system such as this can’t be totally equal and it would also consist of a loss of freedom and identity which would lead to a society that wouldn’t be able to progress due to a lack of innovation. A conformed society leads to the loss of individualism and freedom; this idea is presented through the main characters in the story.
George, Harrison’s father, is a man whose mind is above average. For this reason, the government, which is led by a tyrant known as the handicapper general, restrains George’s talent by giving him an earpiece that makes an irritating sound every twenty seconds and this prevents George’s ability of thinking. This type of method changes a person’s identity because they are not allowed to think for themselves; instead they are required to wear a handicap to subdue their abilities that give them their identity.
The Term Paper on We Talk of Identity as Individual but in Reality, Identity Is Formed by Society
Our individual identity is shaped fundamentally by the society in which we live. However, identity is also shaped by an individual’s sense of self. Society plays a crucial role in forming a sense of identity by influencing the individual through the interactions, norms, and values that are accepted. If the individual carries out an action which doesn’t fit with our society, they are deemed a ...
Not only does this society lack individualism, but also one’s freedom. For example, Harrison Bergeron is kept in a prison under heavy handicaps due to his advanced physical and mental abilities. This invades one’s freedom because it restrains one from using their abilities. In addition, a world such as Harrison’s isn’t very equal because of the fact that all the citizens are under the rule of a tyrant-like government. This idea is presented when Harrison is brutally murdered by the handicapper general.
Harrison is the symbol of hope and individuality in the story and when he gets shot, it shows the reader that the government has an unequal advantage over the people; this scene represents the idea of inequality in this society. Also, all citizens are required by law to wear a handicap if they are in any way superior to others. Everyone has been brainwashed by the government’s propaganda into thinking that the world is actually equal when really, it’s unbalanced.
George for example, falsely believes that if he were to take off his handicaps, then the world would go back to the way it was, but this idea to them would mean chaos. The fact that the government is commanding the citizens against their will creates an unbalanced society in which the government is superior to others. Furthermore, without individualism there won’t be any competition because everyone would be exactly the same; this leads to an absence of innovation and without innovation, humanity wouldn’t be able to progress any further.
For instance, anyone that had an unfair advantage in the story, mentally or physically, was required to wear handicap. The handicaps restrained those who could think out of the ordinary and therefore could not present new ideas and innovation. Vonnegut reinforced this idea through the setting by creating a depressing and in a way, cynical mood. The story took place in 2081 and humanity hadn’t progressed at all. For example: they had to wash their dishes themselves and the television was very old and traditional; these small details symbolize humanity’s little-to-no progression.
Also, the author exemplifies the rules being created which are supposedly meant to help the people, but instead they are oppressing their freedom and individuality. Kurt Vonnegut develops an idea that a conformed society can’t be equal and the total equality would produce a society with no individuality as well as no innovation therefore humanity would not be able to progress. The fault in Harrison Bergeron’s society is an absence of individualism and a freedom because everyone would have the same identity; this conquers one’s freedom because they must wear handicaps against their will.
The Essay on Harrison Bergeron People Handicaps Government
"The story is a satire, a parody of an ideological society divorced from common sense reality" (Townsend). As Townsend stated Kurt Vonnegut makes a satire about society in his fictional short story Harrison Bergeron, which in their society there has been attempt of conformity through the handicaps of the people, the similarity to an authoritarian government, and the technology, whereas the people ...
Also, the government in the Harrison Bergeron is sort of like a dictatorship because they have a huge advantage over everyone else and they command others into doing what they think is ‘right. ’ The uneven levels of power within the society create an unequal system and that contradicts the idea of a totally equal world. Humanity would not be able to progress without individuality because in a world with everyone being equal, physically and mentally, there wouldn’t be any improvement or breakthroughs that could advance the world.
