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The Themes And Differences Of Harrison Bergeron By Kurt Vonnegut

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When Bruce Pittman directed Harrison Bergeron in 1995, most things changed from what was originally written by Kurt Vonnegut. In the film adaptation of this short story, the director had more or less the same idea the author had. Vonnegut presents a scary view of human society in the United States of the future, in which American citizens are all uniform. This then leads to their loss of individuality, and as a result, the deformity of humanness. Both the movie and the short story share these themes; they also have a multitude of other similarities, but have just as many differences. The theme might be the same in both, yet in the story, Harrison is portrayed as a seven foot tall, athletic, fourteen year old with a godlike complex, and the …show more content…

The theme is equal in both movie and book and we can appreciate how Kurt Vonnegut saw the future he would never know. He creates a place where everyone is exactly the same. Not only in the eyes of God, and the law, but in the eyes of every single person in the United States. In the movie, we see the whole process of how Harrison realized the way they were living was not a suitable way to live. He then, illegally takes control of a broadcasting station and plays unedited and uncontrolled movies and music to the public, while he asks them to take off their mind controlling head bands. Unfortunately, Harrison later learns that only 1.3% of the public actually heard the true meaning of his program, and removed their bands for good. Harrison is urged to tell the people of the country that it was all a play he performed, in order for the people to remain calm. He does this but, in perfect irony, commits suicide on live television that leaves to show the reality of the situation to the people. In the short story, his parents are watching a ballet program on television when Harrison, who had been taken by the Handicapper generals, shows up on the screen and demands everyone take off their handicaps. He screams he will take over the government; takes a dancer and jumps and leaps gracefully in the sky. They kiss while floating, symbolizing freedom. They are finally free from the horrible weights and masks that hid their true selves. In both the book and movie they government wanted them all to be exactly the

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