Personal abnormalities are manipulated by society to create an identical population in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story “Harrison Bergeron”.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” correctly warns of stripping individualism because it leads society to a lack of personal expression. When personal abnormalities are taken creating an equal society, people have no sense of personality. All thoughts are manipulated by devices instructing people of acceptable and unacceptable thoughts based on society regulations. George, a man with an above average intelligence, observes a ballerina performance on his television and considers, “maybe dancers shouldn’t be handicapped. But he didn’t get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts” (Vonnegut Jr. 1). George’s ear radio that ‘scattered his thoughts’, destroys his personal opinion due to the societal guidelines thus blocking his personal identity. However, one might argue that citizens still exhibit personal emotions. After witnessing her long lost son being shot on television for expressing talent and strength, Hazel, George’s wife, illustrates emotion, “‘You been crying’ he said to Hazel. ‘Yup,’ she said…’Something real sad on television’” (Vonnegut Jr. 5). The sadness experienced by Hazel and her ‘crying’ indicate the horrific scene she previously witnessed with her son caused grief and sad emotions. This demonstrates the idea that her motherly identity is still present. One cannot deny Hazel felt downcast and sorrowful after the horrid event. This interpretation is helpful, but misses an important point that Hazel was unable to recall the reason for her sorrow, and she couldn’t further express her disheartened nature to George for these unusual actions. Later in George and Hazel’s discussion surrounding the television content George questions Hazel, “‘What was it?’ he said. ‘It’s all kind of mixed up in my mind,’ said Hazel” (Vonnegut Jr. 5). Hazel’s inability to remember the cause of her emotions and her ‘mixed up’ mind further prove she cannot express her emotions. Deep down everybody possesses emotions, but true individuality is ability to express those emotions and remember how they affect a person. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. correctly displays destroying individual personalities due to an inability to reveal emotions.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” correctly warns of stripping individualism because it leads society to a lack of personal expression. When personal abnormalities are taken creating an equal society, people have no sense of personality. All thoughts are manipulated by devices instructing people of acceptable and unacceptable thoughts based on society regulations. George, a man with an above average intelligence, observes a ballerina performance on his television and considers, “maybe dancers shouldn’t be handicapped. But he didn’t get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts” (Vonnegut Jr. 1). George’s ear radio that ‘scattered his thoughts’, destroys his personal opinion due to the societal guidelines thus blocking his personal identity. However, one might argue that citizens still exhibit personal emotions. After witnessing her long lost son being shot on television for expressing talent and strength, Hazel, George’s wife, illustrates emotion, “‘You been crying’ he said to Hazel. ‘Yup,’ she said…’Something real sad on television’” (Vonnegut Jr. 5). The sadness experienced by Hazel and her ‘crying’ indicate the horrific scene she previously witnessed with her son caused grief and sad emotions. This demonstrates the idea that her motherly identity is still present. One cannot deny Hazel felt downcast and sorrowful after the horrid event. This interpretation is helpful, but misses an important point that Hazel was unable to recall the reason for her sorrow, and she couldn’t further express her disheartened nature to George for these unusual actions. Later in George and Hazel’s discussion surrounding the television content George questions Hazel, “‘What was it?’ he said. ‘It’s all kind of mixed up in my mind,’ said Hazel” (Vonnegut Jr. 5). Hazel’s inability to remember the cause of her emotions and her ‘mixed up’ mind further prove she cannot express her emotions. Deep down everybody possesses emotions, but true individuality is ability to express those emotions and remember how they affect a person. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. correctly displays destroying individual personalities due to an inability to reveal emotions.
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