Freedom vs Equality
We had a great discussion about the ideas of freedom and equality prior to reading "Harrison Bergeron". I know that you guys will continue to bring your thoughtful insight to the discussion below. Put some time and thought into your answers; these are questions well worth exploring. It not only makes us better readers and students, but thinkers!
Many of the question below are taken or adapted from http://www.whatsoproudlywehail.org/. This website claims to make American citizens through literature. They have some intriguing questions to which I think you will have some equally intriguing answers. As always, post your responses to the questions in the comment section below. Please relate each answer to the short story. Quote where possible.
We will look at different aspects of he story.
The Society- answer each question
- Why do you think 2081 America adopted its practices of making everyone equal in brains, beauty, and brawn?
- Is it a good thing for people to believe that no one is better than anyone else? Would it be a good thing if, in fact, no person were better than any other person? Why or why not?
- Are there positive aspects of this society? What is it lacking?
- Why exactly do you like or dislike it?
Harrison Bergeron, the character- answer each question
- Do you cheer for Harrison's success, and if so, why? What do you admire about Harrison? Are there aspects of his behavior that concern you?
- Do we have any idea of what sort of ruler he might have been? What kind of government, pursuing what goals, might he have established? (See, in particular, his instructions to the musicians and his selection of his empress.) Would he (and his goals) be better or worse than (those of) the Handicapper General and her agents?
- Harrison Bergeron declares himself emperor. Is his desire—and his capacity—to rule an example of the problem that made the push for total equality necessary?
“Harrison Bergeron,” the Story- answer each question
- With whom do you think Vonnegut sympathizes in the story? Does he present Harrison as a hero, or is the story heroless? Why?
- What is being satirized in this story? Why do you think Vonnegut wrote it?
- Is
Vonnegut’s story finally a cautionary tale about the importance of
freedom? Of individuality? Of excellence? Or is he aiming at something
else?
Overall- answer at minimum 3 questions. Must answer #5
1. Is the society described in Vonnegut’s story a fulfillment of the American principle or ideal of equality or a perversion of that principle or ideal?
2. What, if anything, do we owe those of our fellow citizens who are worse off through no fault of their own? What, if anything, do we owe those of our fellow citizens who were dealt a poor hand of natural talents?
3. Hazel says about the stammering broadcaster "That's all right- he tried. That's the big thing. He tried to do the best he could with what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard." Which should society reward and respect most: personal effort or actual accomplishment? What is Vonnegut saying about this through this story?
4. Most would not want to live in Vonnegut's 2081 America; however, would you object if society sought equality
not by handicapping the gifted but by lifting up the not-gifted, say through genetic engineering or biotechnological enhancement?
5. In May 1961, about five months prior to the appearance of Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron,” Newton Minow, then Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, gave a memorable speech, entitled “
Television and the Public Interest,” which challenged his audience as follows:
I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland. You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder . . . and cartoons. And endlessly commercials—many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all boredom. True, you’ll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it.
Since 1961, TV has grown in leaps and bounds, making Americans even more addicted to it than George and Hazel and their society were. But has it remained the “vast wasteland” that Vonnegut parodied and of which Minow spoke?
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