Essays on Handicapper

English

Ideology Ayn Rand’s ‘Anthem’ is the story of an individual’s struggle against collectivism and against the idea that society has the right to direct each person’s life for the benefit of all. Thus, Anthem is Ayn Rand’s critique of the collectivist program that existed in Russia from where she escaped at the same age as the protagonist of ‘Anthem’, Equality 7-2521 (Rand). In the context of America, however, the focus of Rand and Vonnegut is in contrast. While Ayn Rand focuses on the positive power of individuality in America, Vonnegut’s ‘Harrison Bergeron’ is a ...

Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” describes a “family of equals in a society of equals” (Bozeman and Hirsch, n.d.) where the government promises equal opportunities by placing the gifted at a disadvantage. The storyline is brief and provides the foundations for debates on equality and the implication of equality on the society. Vonnegut presents a idealistic foundation in “Harrison Bergeron” as the story is unswerving in its political roots and customs of the United States as a society. It contradicts the values and historical perspectives of the American’s policy of independence and equality based on the beliefs in Social Darwinism. The ...

Within science fiction, the concept of the dystopian world exists. These are the dark visions of the society. However, it is difficult to imagine that utopias would exist. Harrison Bergeron and V for Vendetta stories present dystopian societies and both are stories of the future which shows how the government will slowly start controlling its people. In the stories, one character stands up to the government and shows significant defiance unfortunately, they end up dying trying to fight the controlling governments (Paik 34). The utopian society experience ideal life as everything runs smoothly. It resembles paradise as people ...

Kurt Vonnegut’s short story "Harrison Bergeron" is a satirical science fiction tale about the dark side of a perfect, ideal American society. It is set in the future, and it is centered on the fact that constitutional Amendments were making everyone equal. All of the individuals of this time are made equal by mechanism which brings them down to the normality level in the story, which is really considered to be below-average in strength intelligence, strength, and aptitude. These individuals are deprived of their individuality. They are not even permitted to reach what is considered to be their complete potential. ...