Harrison Bergeron Research Paper

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Harrison Bergeron When I was young, I always thought I was capable of changing the world. I felt discouraged when my mother told me that I could not do it on my own. Since then, I have always felt that it was necessary to voice my opinions and stand up for what I believe in hopes of creating change and proving my mother wrong. That is, until I came across the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. This story conveys lessons, ideas, and perception that helped me see the world as I knew it in a new light. The idea of a utopian society is one that brings out different arguments. Can one exist in modern day—and at what cost? Is a utopia really a perfect society, a heaven on earth, or do the inhabitants have to make dehumanizing sacrifices? In “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut presents the futuristic United States as a society that is completely equal in every aspect. “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. Nobody was stronger or…show more content…
Obedience is an interesting concept because it is often used as justification for one’s own actions. “I did it because my superior ordered me to,” most say. If groups of people are not educated on a certain topic, they are more likely to listen to and follow the orders of an authoritative figure. The people in the follower group are vulnerable and less likely to question their actions. In some groups, of course, there will be someone brave enough to question the status quo. Even in this unlikely utopia, natural human instincts are still evident despite the constant dehumanization. This further explains the thought that utopias are ultimately unattainable because though the townspeople are seen as equal, they still have an authority figure that is higher on the totem

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