lunes, 25 de agosto de 2008

Hyperbole

What's striking about Vonnegut's story is its hyperbole: equality is enforced in every identifiable respect. What are the appropriate limits to ensuring equality and why?

7 comentarios:

N. Tre. dijo...

Well, noting the tragic ending of "Harrison Bergeron" we can safely agree that these limits were drastically exceeded.
It's been said before but I'll say it again. You don't deprive people of their natural talents if you want them to be identical.
This is similar to the "identity" theme that as been weaving its way through our English class. If everyone were identical, the whole idea of 'identity' has no application to life. With a future like the one predicted by Kurt Vonnegut, identity disappears and there is no distinction of talent and likeness between average people.

Amy G dijo...

I think what she means about exagerration is the circumstances that the author put his character through, and agreeing with nathan, you don't deprive people of how they are if you want them to be equal. The suffering does not make justice to the intellectually gifted nor the fisically gifted, and that, on a certain plane, doesn't make everybody the same, if some people are in pain, and others aren't. I think that the hyperbole in this story is the handicaps and the way people accept them.

Sergio dijo...

There is a fine line of when its okay to limit things for "equality" and the ending proves that this society had left that line behind a long time ago. I agree with Amy and Nathan. Why deprive from the gifted to create equality? Wouldn't this take away, like Nathan said, from the theme of equality? I mean, in the story, society isn't equal, and their best attempt for equality was to create handicaps? Like Amy said, the way the people accept them, to me is... no.

Kevin dijo...

In this story they have passed the line where equality is okay. Now this society isn't a free one because you have to be handicapped and in that sense its not equal to the gifted. Everyone has some talents but some people are just better than others at things and those people who aren't as good are better at something else. Again this is just taking it too far and as Nathan said it takes identity away from people so that everyone is average and there are no distinguishing characteristics. In that sense I once again state the line has been crossed and equality can't be controlled this well and never will people submit to it.

N. Tre. dijo...

All right! Everyone agrees with me this time!

(Ms. Hogshead, this doesn't count as an entry b-t-dubs.)

Susset dijo...

The exagerration of this story is how the people in the society limit the people with the potential they all have. They do all this just to be equal. They deprive everyone on what they can really do. I have to agree with Nathan, that if everyone is identical the idea of everyone having their own identity is no longer in use.

Juan Pablo Gnata dijo...

A change in thinking must be involved to create equality. This change is gradual. If "superior" humans reject and belittle those with less, one person does not think of themselves as equal to other. So, the more intelligent must share knowledge and involve those who need help in their activities. Education is determining in this issue. If people do not have equal opportunities of earning degrees and finding employment, equality is impossible. If public investment in schools grew, parents would have to pay less for education. Scholarships and free schooling provide a chance for equality.