Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron and Shirley Jacksons...

Freedom is one of the many great qualities of life, but when it is taken away, life could turn out to be anything but great. Freedom to think, repent, and refuse should be incorporated in ones daily routine, but under an authoritarian dystopian society, these freedoms are only dreamt of. When society draws such attitudes and lifestyles upon its citizens, one adapts and accepts these requests, but not without a compromise. In Shirley Jackson’s masterpiece ‘The Lottery’ and Kurt Vonnegut’s exceptional story ‘Harrison Bergeron’, human life is so often sacrificed and withdrawn that is becomes a norm in society. Forcing people to agree with someone else’s ideology of harmony and success cannot be achieved without discarding the non-believers.†¦show more content†¦Therefore, because of the lottery being such a respectable tradition, it is strictly enforced to keep it original and antique. For instance, when Mr. Summers addresses the c rowd â€Å"All ready? Now I’ll read the names –heads of families first—and the men come up to take a paper out of the box. Keep the paper folded in your hands without looking at it until everyone has had a turn, everything clear† (Jackson, 3)? This quote is a perfect example of the rules and regulations of the lottery, because even though the members of the village have heard this time and time again, Mr. Summers still repeats it. He repeats it because if he does not, the laws of the lottery will be broken which can bring about a bad harvest. Mr. Summers follows an elaborate system of rules for creating the slips of paper and making up the lists of families. When the lottery begins, he lays out a series of specific rules for the villagers, including who should draw slips of paper from the black box and when to open those papers. For generations and generations, these rules were always followed; to insure a good harvest, and follow tradition. The lotteryâ €™s unique rules lead up to the randomness of the murder at the end. Meanwhile in the short story Harrison Bergeron, the government admires an egalitarian point of view instead of traditional. The United States of America is run by the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers. Due to the 211th 212th and 213thShow MoreRelatedThe Lottery, And Kurt Vonnegut Jr.1203 Words   |  5 Pagesadhere firmly to the viewpoint of a specific character or characters. Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† are two good examples of third-person point of view stories. These two stories give the authors the liberty to influence their content and theme across to readers using third-person narration without being biased. The third-person point of view in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery demonstrates a remarkably unbiased narrator. The storyteller does notRead MoreAnalysis Of Shirley Jackson And Kurt Vonneguts The Lottery1788 Words   |  8 Pagesworld. Through the mid to late 1900s Shirley Jackson and Kurt Vonnegut published a number of fictional pieces in the United States. During this time, each addressed the existing struggle between the individual and society. Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† and Kurt Vonnegut’s â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† are two stories that depict the oppression an individual faces when pitted to society. Jackson’s piece in particular points to the danger of blind following, while Vonnegut’s work addresses the danger in totalRead MoreEssay on Using Fear to Control the Masses1099 Words   |  5 Pages1984, The Lottery, and Harrison Bergeron. The government in 1984 uses fear to control the masses. They set strict rules but leave a level of life completely unknown. The Party uses the people’s easygoing, trusting personalities to their advantages. In Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, the government holds an annual meeting where names are drawn and someone is toned to death. Not knowing through the whole process who will be chosen is a way for the government to instill fear in the people. Shirley JacksonRead MoreAnalysis Of Shirley Jackson s The Lottery, And Kurt Vonnegut Jr. s Harrison Bergeron1604 Words   |  7 PagesA common theme of placing societal influences over personal values and beliefs can be found in Shirley Jackson’s, â€Å"The Lottery†, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†. These short stories describe situations in which the citizens allow the superiors to have full control, without thinking twice about the laws and traditions that require their submission. Both of these short stories are similar in theme, because each tells about a communit y that chooses to participate in cruel and inhumane traditionsRead MoreThe Lottery and Harrison Bergeron1100 Words   |  5 Pages The Lottery and Harrison Bergeron People with power in society often have the ability to influence the practice of certain traditions. These traditions can affect what a citizen is entitled to do. In todays day and age, life without basic freedoms and rights sounds unthinkable. However, in Shirley Jacksons â€Å"The Lottery† and Kurt Vonneguts â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† this is the reality. Old Man Warner and the Handicapper General show that people in positions of authority encourage outdated traditionsRead MoreMy Opinion On Teaching Style Essay1837 Words   |  8 Pagesmore than most people could hope to achieve in their lives, but you may as well learn from the best when learning. The second story that comes to mind is none other than Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron. This short story, despite its length, is full of detail that allows the reader to construct an idea of what this world that Kurt Vonnegut has imagined in his head. The amazing thing about the settings of short stories is the limited space allowed for exposition. This means that all setting must be