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Equality is unachievable when the superior is given authority and power over the inferior who are confined to beliefs out of the fear of disobeying. 

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Equality is unachievable when the superior is given authority and power over the inferior who are confined to beliefs out of the fear of disobeying. 

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In attempts to create equality, the intelligent must wear handicaps -- "It was tuned to a government transmitter...the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains."(1)

Harrison, for example, is deemed as a threat to the government because he rebels against societal standards "He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous" (3)

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Equality is not possible without taking away individuality..

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Equality is not possible without taking away individuality..

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The society in 2081 everyone is supposedly equal, but it is not possible without taking away individuality. Each person still has different handicaps specific to them because they are still individual and different. For example the ballerina in the story was "extraordinarily beautiful because the mask she wore was hideous... she was the strangest and most graceful of all the dancers, for her handicap bags were as big as those worn by two-hundred pound men." How is society equal if one dancer is more hindered than another?

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Bravery is necessary to make change need for the well-being of society. 

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Bravery is necessary to make change need for the well-being of society. 

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Despite it being illegal and risking his life, Harrison "tore the straps of his handicap"(4). His defience of government is necessary to fixing the parts of society that are unjust.

The ballerina that stands is also brave because she stands up to support Harrison despite the risks involved.

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In order for society to excel, people must be able to grow and change individually. 

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In order for society to excel, people must be able to grow and change individually. 

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In the very beginning, "Nobody was smarter than anybody else...better looking...stronger or quicker than anybody else" (Vonnegut 1). In order to grow and change, people must be able to grow past others instead of being the same.

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The story "Harrison Bergeron", portrays the idea that true equality will never be possible when one's identity is required to be altered rather than embraced. This is evidenced by the text when it states "She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous" and "In the race of life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds" (Page 3.) The idea of alternation dependent on person, still depicts the different levels within society, proving that without true acceptance, true equality is never possible.

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In the story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, the present theme is complete equality is meaningless when people are unable to be unique because without differences there is no equality to be achieved. This is evident when Hazel is talking to George about his handicaps and says "I think it would be real interesting, hearing all the sounds". Hazel still feels less than her husband despite the handicaps.

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Extremist ideals can promote an oppressive society where nobody is truly equal 

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Extremist ideals can promote an oppressive society where nobody is truly equal 

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"Harrsion Bergeron" expresses this ideal that under this government that aimed to create everybody 'equal' ended up creating even more of an oppressive society by pushing down ideas of individuality and freedom.
Vonnegut shows this when he states " Hazel had perfectly average intelligence...and Geroge.. had a little mental handicap radio in his ear" (Vonnegut 1)
"They were equal in every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else" (1)
"Harrison carried three hundred pounds"(3) " Diana Moon Glampers...double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice" (5)

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Fear of change and new things causes people to view those with differing ideas as threats. 

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Fear of change and new things causes people to view those with differing ideas as threats. 

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In Harrison Bergeron, Harrison is veiwed as a threat and killed by the Handdicaper General. He is considered a threat becuse he is young and acts out aginst a system that punishes him for his existance. "Harrison tore the straps of hie handicap harness like wt tissue paper, tore staps gaunteed to support five thousand pounds" (4).

Harrisons actions berifly case a spark of change untill he is stopped by violnce. "Not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well...It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studion with a double-barreled then-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Emperess were dead before they hit the floor" (5).

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When the scale of good and evil swings too much to one side, it ensures suffering for all of society 

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When the scale of good and evil swings too much to one side, it ensures suffering for all of society 

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Both stories are filled to the brim with stifled suffering that's just on the corners of the mind. It's not obvious violence, even in 2081 when Harrison get's shot they jsut show a white light and have beatiful music keep playing. Socities emotions are suffacoted in the name of eqaulity with handicaps that break them down, body and soul.

"'Socity', said hazle unceraitnly. 'Isn't that what you just said?'/ 'who knows?' said George"(3).

"'forget sad things'...'I always do'"(5)

"She fired twice...were dead before they hit the floor"(5)

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People are not  realizing how important having individuality is until its taken away 

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People are not  realizing how important having individuality is until its taken away 

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Quote from Harrison Bergeron page.4

¨He flung his rubber-ball nose, revealed a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder¨

and

¨She was blindingly beautiful¨

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Power can be appearance-based, just as much as strength or authority.

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Power can be appearance-based, just as much as strength or authority.

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In the story and film, the ballerina offers herself to be his mate and claim her throne, despite the fact that he was seen as dangerous and untrustworthy.

Page 4 - "Let the first woman who dares rise to her feet and claim her mate and her throne!"

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Those in power frequently threaten their subordinates in order to maintain control and instill fear. 

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Those in power frequently threaten their subordinates in order to maintain control and instill fear. 

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Quote from Harrison Bergeron
"Two years in prison and two thousands dollars fine for every ball I take out" (pg. 2).

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Extreme authoritative control limits the freedom and independence of society.

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Extreme authoritative control limits the freedom and independence of society.

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When Harrison flying in the air with the ballerina, "Diana Moon Glampers... came into the studio... fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor" (Vonnegut 5).

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In the short story, "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., a prominent theme is that total equality is unachievable when totalitarian control is what brings it. This is evidenced when Harrison and the ballerina are dancing, letting their beauty shine beyond their handicaps, when "Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and Empress were dead before they hit the floor" (pg. 5).

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This can be seen as being influential. That is said because Harrison's actions are shown to be an example of a leader who is hoping to get more followers. When he asks for a volunteer, the ballerina steps up and follows his lead, which is what he was hoping to accomplish. On page 4 he says "I shall now select my empress. Let the first woman who dares rise to her feet claim her mate and her throne" which indicates the influence of leader and follower.

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Humanity can never truly achieve universal equality because of innate advantages and human ambition.

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Humanity can never truly achieve universal equality because of innate advantages and human ambition.

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In order to achieve so called "equality", people are unequally burdened, thus negating this "equality." Furthermore, who is to enforce this equality? Is that not a flaw in the system?

"all this equality was due... to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General" (1)

"It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper general, came into the studio with a ten-gauge shotgun.

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The theme in, Harrison Bergeron, is that it is important to stand up for one's personal beliefs and to be themselves.

"She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous ... for her handicap bags were as big as those worn by two-hundred-pound men."

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Beauty is only possible when people are allowed to express themselves freely.

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Beauty is only possible when people are allowed to express themselves freely.

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Quote from Harrison in 2081 when he talks about dragging out the enemy ("equality"/oppression) so the light can reappear.