Conformity In Harrison Bergeron, By Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

â€Å"The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal† (Vonnegut 22). In Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, the author depicts a society set in the future where the gifted individuals are handicapped genetically in order to be equal among everyone. Not lifting up the ungifted individuals will prevent conflicts from occurring between the government and its citizens, this is exhibited by the forced conformity and revolting of characters. People are not meant to be the same; everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. The society this short story takes place in restrains highly exceptional people, â€Å"Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair†¦show more content†¦To illustrate, â€Å" ‘Even as I stand here’ he bellowed, ‘crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!’ † (Vonnegut 26). This demonstrates what a person who has been restricted finally wants to be free of what society has set for him. Compared to â€Å"lifting up† the ungifted someone either who is naturally gifted or has been enhanced will feel as if their life is being made to strive for perfection which insinuates that in order to be equal they need to be like everyone else which sends a negative image of oneself. Even though the ungifted being li fted up may seem to have negative conflicts, equality is a positive factor. Equality is what a society wants in order to not have competition. For instance, â€Å"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 22). People not competing with one another shows how living in harmony amongst one another to avoid conflicts is what the government wants for the people. However, people always will think against what the government wants for instance, â€Å"George was toying with the vague notion that maybe dancers shouldnt be handicapped† (Vonnegut 22). This shows how even when made equal to everyone people still have these thoughts that contradict with that theShow MoreRelatedHarrison Bergeron1095 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Harrison Bergeron† by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a story literally exaggerated to its limit by showing, in the near future, what it means to be equal in every way by having people not being able to show any form of intelligence or creativity whatsoever. When Harrison Bergeron breaks the chains of government oppression, he dies for his failed cause. He dies because he chooses not to conform to the rest of his oppressive society. 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Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else† (Vonnegut 864). In the futuristic short story, â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. illustrates a government implemented law of equality forced upon a society. Vonnegut a social commentator utilizes satirical events in the story to illustrate irrational thoughts and ideas from society. Satire is a special form of literature thatRead MoreThe Sociology Of Deviance, Kai T. Erikson1563 Words   |  7 Pagesthe set of boundaries was incre ased to a very wide range to the point of greatly limiting our freedom? In the futuristic America imagined by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., these questions find their answer. The short story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† starts on a day of April 2081 when George and his wife Hazel are about to witness the murder of Harrison, their 14 year old son, on television. This year, everybody was equal in every which way. No man could run faster than anyone and no woman could look more