Sound of Thunder Essay

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10th Grade Common Writing Assessment #1 In “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. uses irony to illustrate how enforcing absolute equality would require a ridiculously totalitarian society. This story begins with introducing George, who is forced to wear handicaps the government from thinking or having physical abilities above average. His wife Hazel is not handicapped and to the reader seems unintelligent. Their son Harrison has been taken away by the government and on his own revolts. Vonnegut uses the characterization of Harrison, Hazel, and George to show how conformity stifles individualism and is detrimental to society. Harrison Bergeron is a non-conformist in Vonnegut’s short story. “...has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government,” (24). Harrison, George and Hazel’s son, rebelled against the government by breaking out of jail. This rebellion was not allowed by society and the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers. “Harrison’s scrap-iron handicaps crashed to the floor,” (25). He ripped his and a ballerina’s handicaps off, had musicians play music without handicaps’ and doing so, Harrison illustrated his quality of being a non-conformist in this short story. Vonnegut crafted Harrison, a rebel in this story, to illustrate the irony that governmental control of a society and equality ruins individualism. Hazel is neither a non-conformist or conformist in Vonnegut’s short story. “If there was just someway we could make a little hole in the bottom of the bag; and just take a few of them lead balls,” (23). This shows how Hazel is somewhat a non-conformist. She is a non-conformist by trying to get George to be a non-conformist. “...I’d have chimes on Sunday... kind of in honor or religon,” (22). This shows how she is a conformist because she wouldn’t mind being a Handicapper General. It also shows how she
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