Greenville High School, GreenvilleENGLISH 3.05

1) Why do you think the society in the short story "Harrison Bergeron" goesto such lengths to create equality in people?

2. What do you think it would be like to live in a place where everyoneconforms?  Would you rather live in asociety such as the one in "Harrison Bergeron," or are you thankful that yoursociety celebrates diversity?

3.Writeone paragraph, no less than eight sentences, discussing how the story ingeneral "Rip Van Winkle" and especially the maincharacter Rip are examples of   Romanticliterature.

Answer:

1. Why do you think the society in the short story "Harrison Bergeron" goesto such lengths to create equality in people?

The society of Harrison Bergeron  goes to such lenghts to create equality in people because equality is a beloved principle enshrined in America's Declaration of Independence in the phrase "All men are created equal," but Vonnegut suggests that the ideals of egalitarianism can be dangerous if they are interpreted too literally. If the goal of equality is taken to its logical conclusion, we may decide that people must be forced to be equal to one another in their appearance, behavior, and achievements. "Harrison Bergeron" can also be interpreted as a direct critique of communism. The futuristic American society of "Harrison Bergeron" operates on communist principles, supporting the idea that wealth and power should be distributed equally and class hierarchies should not exist. Like the accused communists of the McCarthy era, anyone not conforming to society's accepted standards—in a reversal of sorts, anyone not adhering to the communist structure—is sought out and punished. In his story, Vonnegut argues that such principles are foolish. It is unnatural to distribute wealth and power equally, he suggests, and it is only by literally handicapping the best and brightest citizens that the misguided goal of equal distribution can be attained. Similarly, it is unnatural to seek out and punish those who reject social norms.

2. What do you think it would be like to live in a place where everyone conforms?  Would you rather live in a society such as the one in "Harrison Bergeron," or are you thankful that your society celebrates diversity?

To live in a place where everyone conforms What a chilling thought, because "equal in every way" would probably also mean "same in every way." Forget that it would be impossible, as my colleagues have already mentioned; what a horrific place the world would be if everyone were the same. If everyone could, let's say, paint with the same skill and eye as Michelangelo, that would be amazing; but the reality we could anticipate from this story is that we would all have the artistic ability of a kindergartner. In this story, people and their gifts are diminished to the lowest common denominator, and who wants that? I would rather live in a socciety that delves in diversity.

3.Writeone paragraph, no less than eight sentences, discussing how the story ingeneral "Rip Van Winkle" and especially the maincharacter Rip are examples of   Romanticliterature.

Rip Van Winkle is the epitome of an American romantic hero. He is innocent, youthful, honorable, and looks for truth in his own life and the lives of those around him.

Another example would be Rip Van Winkle love of nature. His love for nature allows him to escape stress, and the majority of the story takes place in the wilderness.

Then we have the supernatural. The story's setting is almost supernatural in itself. The Catskills are described as filled with "...magical hues and shapes....When the weather is fair and settled they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outline on the clear evening sky; but sometimes, when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will glow and light up like a crown of glory"

Lastly, Rip Van Winkle contains a hint of romantic nostalgia, which is evidenced in Rip's desire to return to return to the calm, untouched world he left behind twenty years prior.