Harrison Bergeron

Harrison Bergeron is the story of a boy who is intelligent, good-looking, and strong. However, he lives in a society where everyone is supposed to be equal in everything, even the sounds of their voices. Those who have certain advantages and good qualities, such as Harrison and his father, are required to wear handicaps that weight them down. These handicaps differ in intensity based off the individuals's strengths. Harrison who was imprisoned escapes and appears on his parent's tv during a ballet recital. He announces that he is the new emperor, picks an empress, and instructs everyone to remove their handicaps. His parents watch as this unfolds, however their handicaps make it hard to remember events that have occurred as recently as minutes before. The Handicap General then enters the recital and kills Harrison and the empress and orders all the other ballerinas to put their handicaps back on. The message this story shows is that those who are supposed to aid society and make a better future can become crazy and power-hungry when they are forced to be like everyone else and are shoved down. In complete contrast, a New York Times article entitled, "Losing Is Good For You" argues that when everyone is praised for things that they do not deserve praise for, it turns out to be disadvantageous for them and their future. For example, if a child is awarded with a prize at the end of everything and there are no losers, the child may not put as much effort into something they desire. This is bad because the child will no longer find motive, perseverance, or determination. If there are no losers, those who don't put effort into learning a skill are rewarded equally as those who might spend countless hours trying to perfect that same skill. This teaches the person who slacks, that it is okay to slack and it discourages the person who tried so hard and didn't receive any additional recognition. This does not allow growth or reaching one's potential. My experience was that in 8th grade, the headmaster made an announcement that everyone had to write an essay about the middle school experience and what it means. Only two people of the 70 would read their essays in the graduation. I for one thought that it would be really cool to be able to give a speech at graduation. It made me feel like this is a competition to see who is valedictorian. I was determined to read my speech and make it amazing. Overall, it was not the hardest thing ever but it required a considerable amount of effort. I wrote my essay, and I was indeed chosen to read it. This gave a great sense of pride and achievement because it made me feel like I was not like every other 8th grader in the room. I would not have tried so hard if none of the essays were to be recited. However, I have also experienced the opposite of this as well. I had a really hard biology final coming up and I had spent countless hours studying for it. I spent weekends in my room with a book, when people where at the beach with their friends. The test came and I got an A- on the test, raising my overall grade to an A- as well. I felt ecstatic. My other friend, who studied for maybe one weekend got a B on the test and that dropped her overall grade to a B as well. I felt bad for my friend but I was also proud of myself for making the smarter decision that would aid my future. However, there was a curve on the test which raised my grade by 0.2% but raised by friends grade 1%, giving her an A- in the class when she had a B before. I was happy for my friend, but also felt that this was unfair at the same time. I spent a lot more time trying to learn everything but got the same grade as someone who slacked off a bit. I felt that it was unfair, but it is life and life is never fair. The way that both of these works connect is that they messages both encourage a society in which we are all different and can show our strengths and improve our weaknesses. They tell the reader to live in moderation, do not praise someone for every little task, but do not ignore the potential of others to be great and others to fail. Failure is natural and necessary, but succeeding is just as natural and necessary. No competition is bad, but a lack of competition is also unhealthy.