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Interpretive Essay On Harrison Bergeron

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Harrison Bergeron Interpretive Essay Freedom. Something everyone, in one way or another, wants to obtain. But what does it mean to be free? In Harrison Bergeron, especially when compared to Ovid’s original Icarus piece, this question is answered. The retelling shows that in order to feel free one must know their limitations and their strengths, be able to take a risk and defy society and its rules. Once someone is able to do put it all on the line and be danger of risking their place in society, they will be truly free. The importance of knowing your limits in order to surpass them, is shown firstly when Harrison is introduced in the story. He had many handicaps, all intended to diminish his strengths. “Instead of a little ear radio for a mental handicap, he wore a tremendous pair of earphones, and spectacles with thick wavy lenses. The spectacles were intended to make him not only half blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.” (Line 165-169) Harrison knew his restrictions, but he also was able to break through them. This is similar to Icarus in Ovid’s tale, who is trapped in the labyrinth. The labyrinth was his barrier, which he needed to …show more content…

When Harrison took a risk, ripping off his handicaps, he put himself in a lot of danger. “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds. Harrison’s scrap-iron handicaps crashed to the floor.” (Line 213-217) This act indeed did get Harrison killed ultimately. But once he tore off his constraints, he was able to fly. Harrison was able to finally feel freedom. This is much like Icarus, when he jumped on that cliff with his makeshift wings, which was very risky. But Icarus was able to fly, something no one in his day and age had been able to achieve. He was also able to escape the labyrinth, which to him meant liberation and

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