The message of the short story, Harrison Bergeron, by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. can be analyzed in many different ways. One particular way of looking at the piece is through the literary tool of exaggeration. Vonnegut uses exaggeration as a way of directing the readers view to specific ideas. The characters of the story all have handicaps that are intended to make them all equal. The outrageousness of the handicaps is Vonnegut’s most significant use of exaggeration. The characters handicaps disable them from having any real ideas, thoughts, or progress throughout the story. As a result of the lack of character development, there is also no real plot to the story. Vonnegut does this intentionally in order to focus the reader’s attention on the premise behind the story. People and readers can be blind to the truth; in this case exaggeration is used to open the reader’s eyes to the value of differences, competition, and freedom.
The symbol of the mask is very prevalent in Harrison Bergeron. The characters of the story wear masks to disguise their beauty in an attempt to make them more equal. This is symbolic to the presentation of the story because often times people cannot see things for what they truly are or they are masked to them. The exaggeration present in the work serves to remove those masks and point out ideas to the reader that might not have been previously evident. In Harrison Bergeron, the characters are not only physically masked but they are also figuratively masked because they cannot see their situation for what it really is. The characters are blinded into thinking that their equality has a positive effect on society. However, this is simply not the case because no one can stand up for himself or herself or work to their fullest potential. This situation will prevent society from ever improving. Harrison’s removal of his mask and all his handicaps along with his exaggerated power trip reveals the truth to the people. Harrison’s exaggeration in calling himself the emperor shows the people that they too have the ability to stand up against their handicaps and their controlling government system. Unfortunately, in this case the people are too unintelligent or are dumbed down so much by their handicaps that they are prevented from remembering Harrison’s actions. Therefore, they cannot take after his lead and try to make changes themselves.
The exaggeration in Harrison Bergeron reveals the tragedy in the characters lives. They have no control over themselves and are subject to a greater power, the government. The government thinks it knows what is best for the people but in reality the government is only hurting its society and its citizens. Through the exaggerated and extreme measures that the government takes on the people, the reader is able to decipher more then just a predictable ending. The reader can see beyond the story and understand that Vonnegut intends to show the value of the individual. People need freedoms to be able to work for themselves and to gain self-worth, instead of being suppressed into a desired model. The ability to stand out for who you are was not possible for any of the characters in Harrison Bergeron. Harrison tried to make it a reality but he failed when he was murdered by the government. If the people were not originally handicapped so much that they could not retain Harrison’s actions, then he might have made a significant impact. Harrison had a strength that no other character had; he stood up and fought against the government. This is an admirable quality that sets Harrison apart from his fellow characters. Vonnegut used exaggeration with Harrison to reveal this side of him and it show what one man can do for the society at a whole. (635).
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Cathedral
In Raymond Carver’s, Cathedral, the reader gets a glimpse into one man’s self-consciousness towards one of his wife’s dearest friends, a blind man named Robert. Robert recently lost his wife to cancer and turns to his old friend for condolence and comfort. Robert and the wife have been close friends for ten years by staying in touch through tape recordings. The two friends trade off sending each other tape recordings about their thoughts, interests, and lives. In the story it had been ten years since the two friends had seen each other. The wife was anxiously awaiting Robert’s arrival. However, her husband was skeptical of having a blind man in his house. This initial concern of the husband allows him to come to terms with his comfort levels and his ability to accept differences in people. The husband takes the entire night to realize the wrong in his predetermined decisions, but he finally concludes that blindness should not be a block in any relationship.
The title of the short story, Cathedral, can be viewed as a metaphor for brining people together. In an actual cathedral people are united through her beliefs and religious views. People who may otherwise not socially gather or unify, as a result of their dissimilarities, are brought together. The people see each other on the same level and are able to connect through a common understanding. This parallels to Robert and the husbands endeavor to draw a cathedral together. Originally the husband attempts to describe a cathedral on his own but the two men can not find a common understanding through this method of sharing. Robert suggests that the husband draws out a cathedral on paper so that he can feel the motions of the pen. Robert holds his hand on top of the husbands as the husband becomes entranced with his drawing. The husband finds himself in a whole new state of mind as his drawing continues to flow from his hand. Robert follows along and touches the entire drawing when the husband completes it. The drawing of the cathedral is what finally connects the two men and allows them to understand each other. The cathedral, in both terms, serves as a figure for uniting people. The husband was very critical of the blind man and somewhat uncomfortable with his presence until he is able to understand his condition through the drawing.
The final lines of the story read as follows: ‘“Well?” he said. “Are you looking?” My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything. “It’s really something,” I said.’ These lines inform the reader that the husband has become disconnected with his previous feelings towards the blind man. The husband is aware that he is physically in his house but he feels as though mentally he has been taken somewhere else. This can be interpreted to say that the husband has seen the real person within Robert and the husband knows that he now has a whole new feeling within himself. The husband knows that the drawing he drew is “really something” without even looking at it because he believes that it must be influential because it gave him his entirely new feeling and outlook. The story ends with the reader feeling happy that the husband was able to look beyond Robert’s disability and form a connection with him. The drawing of the cathedral allowed the husband to comprehend Robert’s condition and react with sympathy and kindness. (597).
The title of the short story, Cathedral, can be viewed as a metaphor for brining people together. In an actual cathedral people are united through her beliefs and religious views. People who may otherwise not socially gather or unify, as a result of their dissimilarities, are brought together. The people see each other on the same level and are able to connect through a common understanding. This parallels to Robert and the husbands endeavor to draw a cathedral together. Originally the husband attempts to describe a cathedral on his own but the two men can not find a common understanding through this method of sharing. Robert suggests that the husband draws out a cathedral on paper so that he can feel the motions of the pen. Robert holds his hand on top of the husbands as the husband becomes entranced with his drawing. The husband finds himself in a whole new state of mind as his drawing continues to flow from his hand. Robert follows along and touches the entire drawing when the husband completes it. The drawing of the cathedral is what finally connects the two men and allows them to understand each other. The cathedral, in both terms, serves as a figure for uniting people. The husband was very critical of the blind man and somewhat uncomfortable with his presence until he is able to understand his condition through the drawing.
The final lines of the story read as follows: ‘“Well?” he said. “Are you looking?” My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything. “It’s really something,” I said.’ These lines inform the reader that the husband has become disconnected with his previous feelings towards the blind man. The husband is aware that he is physically in his house but he feels as though mentally he has been taken somewhere else. This can be interpreted to say that the husband has seen the real person within Robert and the husband knows that he now has a whole new feeling within himself. The husband knows that the drawing he drew is “really something” without even looking at it because he believes that it must be influential because it gave him his entirely new feeling and outlook. The story ends with the reader feeling happy that the husband was able to look beyond Robert’s disability and form a connection with him. The drawing of the cathedral allowed the husband to comprehend Robert’s condition and react with sympathy and kindness. (597).
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Baba O'Riley"
I found Teenage wasteland to be a very touching and heartbreaking story. The main character, Donny, has an impossibly hard time finding himself and dealing with his feelings and emotions. He struggles with different people pulling him in different directions and cannot seem to fully relate to any of them. His parents, teachers, school, and his tutor Cal all try and handle Donny differently. It is clear that Donny is not very inspired or motivated in school but the reader is not entirely sure why. His parents are initially shocked to hear about this side of Donny and make a strong effort to turn his study habits around. Donny’s mother works with him every night and supervises his work. His grades improve slightly but not enough to get the school uninvolved. The school and his teachers all push him into getting a tutor. Consequently, Donny starts working with Cal. Cal has a very different philosophy then Donny’s parents do. Cal has a much more relaxed and carefree viewpoint. Cal convinces Donny’s parents that they are too strict on him and encourage them to give Donny a later curfew and be allowed to go to unsupervised parties. Donny’s parents listen to Cal and become increasing less involved his Donny’s life, relaying everything, including Donny’s teacher concerns, to Cal.
Donny seems to connect with Cal the most out of any of his influences. However, Cal might not be as good of a role model or tutor as he initially appears. Cal is aware that Donny is not improving in his classes but he lets it slide, claiming that time will fix everything. Cal also embraces Donny’s willingness to blame anyone and everyone other that himself. According to Cal, nothing is ever Donny’s fault; it is Donny’s parents fault for lowering his self-esteem and it is Donny’s schools fault for bullying him for being a different kind of person. Cal blames everything on Donny’s low self-esteem (caused by others), which Cal claims makes Donny emotionally unstable.
I do not believe that Cal should have embraced this mentality. Cal told Donny that this was not his problem and made him believe that nothing was ever his fault. This caused Donny to not take responsibility for his actions or mistakes. Donny informed his teachers that it was acceptable for him to be talking in class because he had a tutor. This is an example of Donny thinking he can slide past the roles because of the attitude that Cal put in Donny’s mind.
When Donny get expelled from school he runs straight to Cal. Donny, in a way, views Cal as his protector because he knows that Cal will always take his side and look for others to blame, even when Donny is at fault. Donny’s mother can see through Donny’s lie when he blames another boy for planting beer in his locker (especially when Donny cannot name the name of this boy). Cal’s thinking is to blame this other boy and sue the school for searching Donny’s locker without a warrant. However, Donny’s mother sees this as an opportunity to break from Cal’s bad influence, which she finally sees, and start over. Donny receives average grades at his local public school but never gets involved or makes friends. When Danny goes missing at the end of the story the police blame his disappearance on Donny running away. No matter how heartbreaking it id for Donny’s parents they never stop hoping, waiting, and looking for him.
I think that Donny simple could not fins himself or his place in his school or household. Danny had no one to go to so he ultimately decided to run away. I believe that Donny’s problems originally stemmed from his parents and lost feelings but dramatically worsened under Cal. Cal did not help Donny improve any aspect of his life, instead he was the one who taught Donny to run away. Cal set the example by teaching Donny to run away from his problems, which I think was a large part of why Donny ultimately ran away from his life in the end. (687).
Donny seems to connect with Cal the most out of any of his influences. However, Cal might not be as good of a role model or tutor as he initially appears. Cal is aware that Donny is not improving in his classes but he lets it slide, claiming that time will fix everything. Cal also embraces Donny’s willingness to blame anyone and everyone other that himself. According to Cal, nothing is ever Donny’s fault; it is Donny’s parents fault for lowering his self-esteem and it is Donny’s schools fault for bullying him for being a different kind of person. Cal blames everything on Donny’s low self-esteem (caused by others), which Cal claims makes Donny emotionally unstable.
I do not believe that Cal should have embraced this mentality. Cal told Donny that this was not his problem and made him believe that nothing was ever his fault. This caused Donny to not take responsibility for his actions or mistakes. Donny informed his teachers that it was acceptable for him to be talking in class because he had a tutor. This is an example of Donny thinking he can slide past the roles because of the attitude that Cal put in Donny’s mind.
When Donny get expelled from school he runs straight to Cal. Donny, in a way, views Cal as his protector because he knows that Cal will always take his side and look for others to blame, even when Donny is at fault. Donny’s mother can see through Donny’s lie when he blames another boy for planting beer in his locker (especially when Donny cannot name the name of this boy). Cal’s thinking is to blame this other boy and sue the school for searching Donny’s locker without a warrant. However, Donny’s mother sees this as an opportunity to break from Cal’s bad influence, which she finally sees, and start over. Donny receives average grades at his local public school but never gets involved or makes friends. When Danny goes missing at the end of the story the police blame his disappearance on Donny running away. No matter how heartbreaking it id for Donny’s parents they never stop hoping, waiting, and looking for him.
I think that Donny simple could not fins himself or his place in his school or household. Danny had no one to go to so he ultimately decided to run away. I believe that Donny’s problems originally stemmed from his parents and lost feelings but dramatically worsened under Cal. Cal did not help Donny improve any aspect of his life, instead he was the one who taught Donny to run away. Cal set the example by teaching Donny to run away from his problems, which I think was a large part of why Donny ultimately ran away from his life in the end. (687).
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