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Essay / False Happiness and Equality in “Harrison Bergeron”
In the short story “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut describes a living world where citizens are content and peaceful on the surface. However, it is becoming clear that we live in a dehumanizing and unpleasant world, in which everyone is equal. It is a dystopia where strict regulations are imposed based on equality. No one can be smarter, more beautiful, or more competent than anyone else; if you are naturally smarter than everyone else, handicaps are applied to make everyone equal. The protagonist Harrison Bergeron challenges the equality imposed in this society. Through the creation of a twisted version of societal norms and values like equality to the extremes, the author makes readers question what happiness is and how it is achieved and justified in their own society or real culture. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original EssayVonnegut refers to the idea of authentic happiness in a community when he creates a society in which everyone is made equal through the implementation of government-controlled disabilities to those who are exceptionally attractive, talented, or intelligent. No one is better than anyone else, which reduces any competition that could give rise to controversy, ultimately producing what appears to be a thriving society. The exception to the status quo is Harrison Bergeron, the son of a disabled father named George and an unintelligent mother Hazel. His distinct qualities make him a threat to society, landing him in prison with extreme disabilities. He eventually escapes, defying his physical and mental restrictions and ultimately being killed because of it. The citizens of this world are being brainwashed by the government into accepting the status quo. They actually believe that the oppression of their individuality is for the greater good of their society. Support for this belief appears when George refers to earlier eras without disabilities as “the dark ages […] where everyone was competing against everyone” ( ). People like George show how this community views its new obstacles as a good thing. However, the reader is aware that this is not true happiness but a false facade of happiness. The public can see this falsehood of happiness promoted in this society. When Harrison was killed at the end of the story, his mother Hazel was unable to react with real emotions to the tragedy of what happened. She couldn't react with the passion and depth of emotion expected of a mother who has lost her child. Her father George tells Hazel, “Forget the sad things,” and she replies, “I always do” ( ). She is desensitized to her authentic feelings due to the standards society imposes on her. In order to promote “happiness,” ignorance or rejection of sad or tragic events is taught. Because she is told to neglect sad things, this means that much of the happiness she feels is forced by society. This is not true happiness but a false happiness due to not recognizing the raw emotions of sad events. This false happiness of these citizens is unconsciously to the detriment of themselves. The government has essentially brainwashed the people by disguising the mind control they use to maintain power over the people as "equality" without which their lives would be horrible. Vonnegut is trying to emphasize the importance of diversity, because if people became broadly identical, they would be more predictable and therefore easier for the, 54(4), 81-93.