Seniors Modern American Themes:Journal # 1--Man vs. Society
Both "Why Don't You Look Where You're Going?" and "Harrison Bergeron" deal with the conflict between man and Society. "Why ...Going?" was published in 1950, so it's about Post WW II Western Society. The war in the "Why?", however, is not between the Axis and Allied Powers, but between the insignificant and unheralded nonconformist/Flying Dutchman and the omnipotent Society/ocean liner. Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" was a 1961 Cold War era warning at what a Big Brother communist totalitarian government might look like in a dystopic America. The stories' publication dates belie their present-day usefulness for serious discussion. And that's where you come in. You should write a (250 word minimum) paragraph here in which you relate any theme, character, plot event, conflict, etc. to a modern counterpart. In other words, write about how the story is still relevant today by comparing parts of the story to parts of our modern world.
We'll talk about these stories in class, of course, for you to get some ideas. Write your response here before Friday, February 6.
posted by JTF @ 9:42 PM
44 comments
44 Comments:
The man aboard the Flying Dutchman in "Why Don't You Look Where You're Going?" is very relevant to the modern world. He represents society’s outcast by literally being on his own small ship while everyone else is aboard the gigantic cruise liner. Those on the “sainted leviathan” are society, and like society today, they are ignorant of those who do not conform. At first, the people cannot even identify the man as a man on a boat, symbolizing how ignorant society is of others who differ from the “perceived norm.” This occurs in modern society today because as a whole, society tends to ignore or mock people who dress, speak, act, etc. in a way that they are not familiar. Although there has been a significant reduction of this behavior, it is still apparent. For example, the general public at the mall is quick to judge a group of adults who wear mismatched clothing and have orange hair. This is an extreme example, but they represent the man aboard the Flying Dutchman. Instead of conforming and “joining society on the cruise liner,” these vibrant people stray. In regards to society, they are screaming out with their fashion statements; they are shouting, “why don't you look where you’re going?” They do not understand or agree with being one as a whole, especially like the society depicted in “Harrison Bergeron.” The man aboard the Flying Dutchman is similar to Harrison Bergeron because they do not conform. They are both aware of their differences and choose to defy the rules, whether it is of society like the sailor or of government like the boy. These characters are present throughout the modern world and are usually known as radicals for being “against the flow.” Although these two stories were written in different time periods, they remain pertinent today.
A major theme in the short story “Why don’t you look where you’re going?” deals with the issue of conformity versus nonconformity. In the story, the single man going against what is considered the norm is ridiculed for being different. No one on the ocean liner praises him for being on a smaller boat and sailing in another direction. The story implies that society will always be on the side of conformity. Today, there are two sides to the issue of conformity. I read an article talking about how nonconformists are perceived as having a higher status when they go against norms deliberately, meaning they had the means to do what the rest of society does. However, if the nonconformist is perceived as being different because they do not understand what the norm is or they do not have the means to adhere to it, they are ridiculed. The article gave an example of how Mark Zuckerburg, founder of Facebook, wore a hooded sweatshirt to important business meetings on Wall Street. Because people knew he could afford an expensive suit, he was praised for doing something unique and unexpected. If a poor person walked into a meeting dressed similarly, they would be ridiculed for not having the means to buy a suit. A major theme in “Harrison Bergeron” comments on the idea of everyone in society being equal. It is a warning that shows how dangerous it could be if everyone were somehow made to be the same in every aspect of their lives. Today, we face similar issues in areas such as discrimination and being politically correct. Everyone involved in the media has to always be aware of what they are saying and how it may be received by society. These issues may cause people to sensor their true opinion on a matter out of fear of insulting someone. Employment has become more complicated with the issue of discrimination. It seems as though people might be hired not for their aptitude in the job, but because hiring certain people shows that the company does not discriminate based on race or gender.
Vonnegurt’s “Harrison Bergeron” was written in 1961 as a satirical short story that condemns the issue that is prevalent in today’s world: the government’s dehumanization of its civilians. Many governments, including the American government, have the tendency to view the civilians as pawns as opposed to the individual human beings that they are. In “Harrison Bergeron,” the Handicap Generals try to establish this egalitarian government by forcing all of the citizens to be equal by diminishing their potential and their capability by putting handicaps on them. When it comes to the individuals who are above the average intelligence level (the average intelligence being that one can think only in short bursts), these people are forced to have this radio inserted in their ears that send extremely loud noises into their heads in order to scatter their thoughts and keep them from “thinking intelligently.” By scattering their thoughts and keeping them from thinking, the government is taking away from these civilians what it really means to be human. Many philosophers have agreed that that which makes us human is our ability to think and reason. By inhibiting this ability, they are essentially keeping George, as well as every other person above the average intelligence of the time, from being fully human in essence. In the world today, people are stripped of their humanity every day. In some places people are tortured and treated like animals. In America, impoverished people live on the streets and are forced to grovel and beg for food. Unfortunately, the government does not fix this poverty problem and it continues to worsen. People are losing their humanity while the government picks up its control.
In the short story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going,” the cruise liner represents the omnipotence and conformity of society. In the story, the flying fish are described as only a brief, small glimpse down near the bottom of the boat. The flying fish represent different groups of people and conflicts that happen in society. These conflicts may warrant brief attention. However, they are soon ignored and forgotten by the majority of society. There are many events in the world today that can be seen as “flying fish.” One example is the missing girls in Nigeria. Recently, I read an article about the girls written just three months after they had been taken hostage by a terrorist group while in school. Although some of the girls had been found, there were many more who still remained missing. And after the terrorists had threatened to sell the girls, their parents were becoming more and more frantic. At this point, the once trending #bringbackourgirls was dwindling and so was the search for the missing girls. And now, I have not heard news of the missing girls in months. Another example of the flying fish in our society is the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. About a month after it took place, protests continued day after day, #Ferguson was trending on Twitter, and there was constant news coverage of the town. Today, I rarely hear about Ferguson. And displays of police brutality seem to pop up every other week. They seem almost commonplace. And this is truly terrifying. Society keeps plowing forward just like the white leviathan in the story. Maybe it is the fact that society is desensitized by the constant violence that we see in the news every day. Society has learned to ignore it and to turn the channel of the television. Only when it hits close to home will individuals break from the conformity of society. And even then, I am sure there will be people who will be swept back into the tide of conformity soon after.
The story of “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” can be related to the issues of conformity and nonconformity in the modern world today. The man aboard the Flying Dutchman represents the outcast of society that chooses to retain his individuality and not conform to the group. His tiny boat is sailing in the opposite direction of the huge ship. On the other hand, the cruise liner, the “sainted leviathan”, represents society as a whole. The passengers aboard the cruise liner portray society’s ignorance and inclination to ridicule those who do not conform to society’s norms and rules. The story accurately shows how most people are in favor of everyone conforming one group. The story also shows the struggles of a nonconformist who is against the big huge society that looks down upon him for being different. There are plenty of examples in the modern world of conformity versus nonconformity. Much of the way in which we behave is determined by social norms. For example, we don't talk on our cell phones in movie theaters because our society tells us that it is rude and disruptive. We call our parents 'Mom' and 'Dad' because the rules of society dictate that children call their parents by these titles instead of by their first names. We wait in line in order to check out at the grocery store because our society tells us this is a proper and fair way to pay for groceries. Everywhere we go, we are receiving pressures from society to act and behave a certain way. People are punished for not conforming to societal norms. If you have ever watched a group of high school students, you might notice that the students who do not follow norms (i.e., they aren't athletic, don't wear name brand clothes, or don't hang out at certain spots) are often shunned by their peers. People who practice social nonconformity are not influenced by societal pressures to act or behave a certain way. These people experience the same kinds of societal pressures that other people do, they just choose not to give in.
“Harris Bergeron” takes place in 1961 where individuals in the United States still feared being taken over by Russia or Conformists known as the Red Scare. Society had an ideal for all individuals to be equal and for no one to be better than the individual next to them. Within the story “Harris Bergeron” the theme of total equality plays a major role. This theme is a major mistake in the sense of the outcomes of this idea. It is said within the story that the beautiful ballerinas are to wear masks to cover their beauty, that the intelligent are to hear sharp notes to mask their intelligence, and that the strong are to carry weights around for days. These actions cause for society to become slow and incapable. The story “Harris Bergeron” is relevant to modern day society through its overall theme. In modern times, we are still always conforming. Many people still believe that the best way to threat people is by making them equal. We see this theme in many modern books and movies. In the movie “The Giver” which was released on August 15, 2014 many similar themes were addressed. The movie deals with the theme of total equality, and taking away talents from people to make them more acceptable. We also have the movie and book series “Divergent.” The characters are told to either conform or be killed as punishment. This theme even after many years is still present and I believe it still will be for man years to come.
In the short story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?”, the ocean liner represents society. The story opens with a description of the ship as a “white…sainted leviathan” which almost insinuates a Biblical connection or that the ship is seen as a good, humble, perfect utopia. In fact, this very word—utopia—was used to describe the ocean liner in the story. These descriptions parallel the reality of society’s huge influence and power over human beings. In the second paragraph, it says “everyone on board was comfortable, even satisfied.” This sentence reflects the way that some people view life among those accepted in society; they are going about life with ease and comfort and they don’t have to worry about anything. The water laps against the side of the ship, but has no effect on it, as changes in the world cannot shake the society as a whole. The liner is described as a “self-sufficient creature” and so is society. Once began, very minimal work is needed to keep it going unless some major catastrophe happens. When the ship passes the flying fish, it serves as a reminder of how much faster and better society is versus being an outcast. Even the separate decks of the ocean liner mimic the different classes that we have in society today. The fact that the people aboard the ship take such an interest in the man on the Flying Dutchman shows the fascination we, as human beings, have with people who are different from ourselves. This ocean liner is heading to a destination that no one knows, no one cares about, and the people on board are missing everything around them.
“Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” is a story about a large vessel and a small boat and represents our society. The large vessel obviously represents society and the small boat represents an individual within that society that is not quite so willing to conform. The large vessel is moving rapidly with many passengers on it when the passengers see something in the distance that they can’t quite make out. As the large boat gets closer to the object, the passengers on the boat realize that it is another, very small, boat with a single man in it. The large vessel makes no effort to move in a different direction to avoid the small boat, but instead expects the man in the small boat to move out of it’s way. When the large boat gets close enough, the man in the small boat says “why don’t you look where you’re going?” in anger and rage. The people on the large boat are offended and believe that the small boat should have moved out of their way. This story is an accurate depiction of society because people will conform to the people around them and don’t like when others try to go against society. The people on the large boat are the conformists because they don’t believe they should’ve moved out of the small boats way, but vise versa. They are part of the large society and conform to what that society is telling them. The man in his small boat is the nonconformists and believes he had just as much right to be in that big open ocean as every person on the large vessel. He thinks the big boat should’ve been more careful and not almost killed him. It’s hard in today’s society to up against society and what is “popular,” especially at our age. If you put yourself in the shoes of the passengers on the large vessel, it’s easy to see where they are coming from; getting mad because a man in a much smaller boat is yelling at you to watch where you’re going. On the other hand, though, it is also easy to see where the man in the small boat is coming from because he believes he too should be looked out for, even if he doesn’t want to conform.
The theme of “Harrison Burgeron” of enforced equality can be related to things going on today. In this story, everyone is made to be equal and people who are not equal have to wear handicaps to make them equal. This relates on a large scale today with the practice of communism in which there is no such thing as classes or money. The United States has fought against this for almost seventy years but it is still prevalent in some countries today. One country that is similar to the United States in this story in that their government forces equality and handicaps their citizens is North Korea. These people have been sheltered and convinced of things far from the truth so that the government can have complete control. The way that the United States in the story is able to convince the people that this equality is okay is by not allowing people to think for themselves. This is what a country like North Korea does today to not allow its citizens to know what is going so they will never question what the government is doing. On a smaller scale, this theme could also be related to the reward system in youth sports. All kids today all have to be given a trophy at the end of the season and are told that there are no winners or losers. This is unfair to the kids as it was unfair to the citizens in the story that they were suppressed because an important part of developing is how someone deals with failure and this system takes that away. Enforced equality is something that is unfortunately being used more widespread in recent times. There have been many examples, in this story and in real life, that show that this does not allow freedom and does more negative than positive.
In Harrison Bergeron, the idea of equality is explored. In this satirical story, Kurt Vonnegut mocks the idealized culture where all are equal. In modern America, a common theme is the fight for equality, whether it is economic equality, racial equality, or gender equality. The story Harrison Bergeron addresses the fight for equality by exaggerating it. In the story, the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, is responsible for making sure everyone is equal with weighted bags to prevent one from moving too fast, loud noises to interrupt one’s thoughts, and masks to hide one’s beauty. The story even begins, “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anyone else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anyone else.” There was neither the diversity nor inequality which plague the world today. In considering the modern fight for equality, this story suggests, in an exaggerated fashion, that maybe complete equality is not good. In the story in order for everyone to be completely equal, those with advantages have to be handicapped. George Bergeron for instance has to wear a little mental handicap radio in his ear which would sound every twenty seconds to interrupt his thoughts so that his intelligence would not pass that of others such as his wife Hazel. The handicaps can also be seen on people such as Harrison Bergeron, who is considered extremely dangerous due to his “unequal” physical and mental advantages. In the announcement made, of course with a stutter, he is depicted in such a way, “He is a genius and an athlete, is under handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous.” In an attempt to equalize him, he is bound by pounds of scrap metal, earphone size radio mental handicaps, and wavy glasses to make him half blind. Despite this, he wasn’t afraid to be himself and free himself from these handicaps, even though it cost him his life. This story is a cautionary tale that can continue to warn of the potential draw backs to complete inequality. If we completely equalize the world, we will lose the uniqueness and the division of labor. It can sometimes be lost in the fight for equality that some people are better than others because that is where they excel. Each person must discover their own strengths and weaknesses so that they may contribute to society in some. Harrison Bergeron shows how the idea of equality can be take too far; therefore, as the fight for equality continues in America today, we must remember to not lose the flair for individuality and must respect the different strengths and weaknesses of others. The fight for equality should, however, continue so that all are able to share in their equal natural rights and in civil rights. We should work for all to be equal under God and law, yet preserve some of the uniqueness in intelligence, appearance, or strength.
The society described in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” highlights the theme of equality and warns people of what society could become if everything is controlled and equalized by the government. While the story was written in the 1960s, it is still relevant today with the constant debate over equality in our society. Americans argue over inequalities in income. Parents and teachers debate over segregation of classes based on intelligence. The society described in “Harrison Bergeron” is controlling, robotic, and disturbing to readers. As much as we may think that our society today is nothing like that of the story, there are still aspects of the society of “Harrison Bergeron” that can be seen in America today. All children on a soccer team are given a participation trophy so that no one receives more praise than anyone else and no one’s feelings are hurt. Parents pester coaches if their children do not get enough time on the field. There is constant pressure to shelter people from negative feedback so that no one feels unequal or below others. In a scary way, this is similar to the society of “Harrison Bergeron,” in which no one is allowed to be above or below anyone else. While protecting the feelings of others is generally a good thing, where is the line drawn? If children grow up as equals in every area of analysis, eventually there may be no development of talents. If people are not taught how to fail, how will they improve? People will remain average; those with the most talent will have no recognition and incentive to master their talents, and those who are less talented in areas will have no reason to work hard and improve. The society of “Harrison Bergeron” serves as a reminder to our society that there can be good found inequality when it pushes people to greater success.
In the story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” there are many modern American themes still prevalent despite the fact that it was written over 50 years ago. The boat and the characters on it are a representation of our society. In the story the boat almost runs over a small ship, which holds an elderly man. After the near miss, the man yells, “Why don’t you look where you’re going” to the passengers aboard. The ship simply continues on. The “big picture” concept of the boat nearly running the man over is still able to represent our society today. Our society compels us to conform to the popular opinion. In modern times this can be represented in decisions as small as fashion trends, or as large as political views. It is seemingly innate to choose the popular opinion. This would be the people on the boat who are speeding through the vast ocean. The boat, or society, is described, as being so big even God couldn’t imagine it. Societal views are so huge and persuading that no one can stop them at times just like the ships speed. However, there are some non-conformists. They are small in number and at lot of the times seen as useless by the conformists of society. Nonconformists may be represented as the man in the boat. His small ship was nothing compared to the huge liner, but he did still exist and had every right sailing there. In modern times, this could be represented in things like political parties. Of course there are the two main parties Republican and Democrats, but Greenhouse and Tea Parties still exist. They may not receive many votes, but they are still important because they take votes away from other candidates. In the end, the man calls out to the boat as it continues to carry on its way. A lot of times our society doesn’t take the time to notice people who don’t think like we do. There is always risk of “running over” the nonconformists. In every society there will always be those who challenge beliefs, nonconformists, which is why this story will always be applicable despite its age.
Some of the major themes in the story “Harrison Bergeron” are conformity and equality. Although this story was written over 50 years ago, its message still applies today. In this story all people are equal to each other. Those who excel in certain areas are subject to various handicaps in order so that nobody feels bad about themselves. For example, the intelligent are forced to be subject to devices in their ears that disrupt their thoughts. Those who try to dissent from these rules are either imprisoned or killed. In modern day society things like this are already being done, although not to this extent. Many sports teams for young kids have began to give all children awards just for participating regardless if they win or lose. While this may seem like a good idea, it is actually harmful to children. According to some studies giving kids awards like this can actually lower self esteem. This is likely due because the children know that they do not actually deserve such awards. Also making all people equal and removing any difference between people ignores that which makes us great. No two people will never equal in all aspects. Even with twin siblings there are still some differences between them. For example, one may like reading, and the other may enjoy sports. Equality is a great thing to strive towards. However, when it mean that people must give up not only personal freedoms but all things that make them individuals, it actually worth it?
Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" explores the theme of equality in our society. Relevant both then and now, this theme shows how society condemns individuality and non-conformity. The society described in "Harrison Bergeron" is a satirized version of today's modern culture. The people different from the norm are intentionally handicapped as to create an equal society similar to that of communism. While modern non-conformists are not handicapped, they are ignored or socially ostracized. People who stray from the status quo are not considered cool and are valued less equally by those deemed "popular." In Vonnegut's story the cliché popular high school crowd now controls the government. Because popularity and conformity are often fueled deep down by personal insecurities the agents of the United States Handicap General seek to burden those with high intelligence, athleticism, or artistic talent not because they desire a society where all citizens are equal, but because they are afraid that someone, somewhere could be smarter, stronger, or more creative than them. This age old struggle between conformity and non-confomrity, collectivism and individualism is highlighted in a comical manner by Vonnegut. The obvious unreality presented in the story raises the question; How far can the government go to control our lives?
Vonnegurt’s “Harrison Bergeron” was a story written in 1961 that displays the government as tyrants who control people’s human nature. In this story, a 14 year old boy who is abnormally intelligent is forced to wear an ear piece that makes loud, distracting noises that keep him from thinking intelligent thoughts. This story to me really shows how the government and other people try to make us conform to society and do not let us be individuals. People are quick to judge someone for their differences no matter what they are. For example, a person who is extremely smart can be called a nerd, yet someone who lacks intelligence is called dumb or an idiot. In this story, the government’s idea to make everyone the same seems like a good idea from the surface, but in reality it takes more away from society than it adds. Sure people may not feel bad about themselves for being ugly, dumb, un-athletic, or something else, but they never get to feel a sense of individualism. The feeling of individualism is something we humans have above almost every other species. Along with our free will, our expression of ourselves is not only important to ourselves, but important to society. It allows exploration and growth, and helps people along with ideas develop. A society with people all thinking in the same manner limits creativity and innovation. So first glance at this story you may think, “Wow, this actually doesn’t sound so bad,” but in reality, diversity is what we need. We need to be our own person, and conforming to government and peer standards restrict us from doing so. This story is a great example of how and why we need to be ourselves to not only help ourselves, but to help society grow and prosper.
One of the major modern themes discussed in the short story “Why don’t you look where you’re going?” is the issue of conformity versus nonconformity. During the story, the single man going against society is mocked for being different or a "non-conformist." None of the passengers on the main ocean liner praise the single man for being on the smaller boat and sailing in a different direction. This implies that society, like the passengers, will always be on the side of conformity. In today's world, it seems as though we are always trying to fit in. It is always thought that if you're doing what everyone else is doing, you will not be judged or ridiculed. Today, conformity can be expressed in many more ways. With social media being such a major aspect of our everyday lives, we become more concerned about what we post and tweet because we want it to be received well by our followers. Those who play more prominent roles in society, such as celebrities and athletes, who are constantly involved in the media, always have to be aware of what they are saying and how it may be perceived by society. And with the media being such a huge factor in our everyday lives, those who may say something that goes against the norm will be put on blast almost instantly. This may cause people to be quick to hide their true opinion on a matter out of fear of being ridiculed. Conformity is always going to be an issue in our society; however, I think that non-conformity will start to become more of a trend.
The story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” has a character known as the Flying Dutchman. The Flying Dutchman is portrayed as a non-conformist who floats along against society. The Flying Dutchman is almost overlooked and in the beginning isn’t really a care of the people. The Flying Dutchman character can be connected in our society today to those who are overlooked and underappreciated. They can be seen as those who are seen as less important just because of the fact that they go against the flow and challenge the status quo. People who are seen as so small and underwhelming that there is almost no care given to them. Just like the Flying Dutchman gathering so much attention just by his discovery, there are people in this world that go about things differently and propose new ideas and when they are finally discovered it draws so much attention and speculation of everyone around. Many non-conformists are usually overlooked or just like to be left alone traveling along their own path at their own pace. And when these non-conformists get in the way of the whole society it can cause anger and agitation. Like the passengers getting upset at the Flying Dutchman for not getting out of the way of the leviathan. A non-conformist does not like to be restricted by the intimidation of society. Like the Flying Dutchman saying “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” Those who challenge society move past society trying to look after themselves.
The story “Why don’t you look where you’re going?” deals with the issue of conformity in the world. The man aboard the Flying Dutchman symbolizes the nonconformists in society. Those aboard liner represent the greater conforming society. In the story those aboard the liner seem to find amusement over the sailor’s strange appearance and mannerisms. The man neither desires, nor is welcome to join those aboard the liner. He is the total opposite those on the liner. He is traveling in another direction, he is in a small unfitted boat, and his appearance is far different than those aboard the liner. This story can be applicable with modern society in the United States today. There is an overwhelming notion to conform with social standards in the society, and those who do not comply seem to be shunned or looked down on. Much like in the story the conformists and the nonconformists are separated by an immovable force. The ocean acts as a barrier in the story while in modern society social barriers block the conformists and nonconformists. The theme of conformity can be found anywhere in a modern american society. Schools, workplaces, churches, neighborhoods, all sources have those who conform and those who do not conform. The majority of the mass tends to try to fit in because that is the easiest way to live easily. Much like those aboard the liner, their lives are easy and carefree. Those who chose to be nonconformists tend to have a harder more laborious existence in society. Like the sailor aboard the Flying Dutchman. The story can still be easily related to modern american themes and society.
The major theme in the story "Why don't you look where you're going" is conformity versus nonconformity. The Flying Dutchman, on the ship that appears minuscule compared to the large ocean liner, represents the nonconformists in society today. The people aboard the large ocean liner represent society today as a whole and how judgmental people are when someone is different than them. In today's society, what you wear to school or out in public is judged by everyone if you stand out and don't go along with the norm. At school, we are fortunate enough to have uniforms so no one feels singled out if they don't have the latest and up to date fashionable clothes. Others, in public and private schools are made to feel self conscious, singled out, and belittled like the man on the boat because they "look weird" compared to everyone else. The Flying Dutchman's boat is smaller than the ocean liner to portray how the people feel who are made fun of or given dirty looks because of their appearance. The Flying Dutchman is a perfect example of a nonconformist because he does not care what the people on the boat think of him. Actually, he makes the masculine woman aboard the ocean liner want to change the way she is living because she likes his attitude towards life, not caring what other people think. Without nonconformists in our society, everyone would look and act the same way and nothing would ever change
The short story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” by Walter Van Tilburg Clark relates to the modern American theme of conformity versus nonconformity. In this story, much like every human being’s day-by-day reality, the one who goes against the norm is considered an outcast. The outcast in this story is the man on the small sailboat, the Flying Dutchman, who sailed solo. He didn’t need anything or anyone more to enjoy himself. The people on the cruise liner, who looked up to the superior master-race blonde man, see him coming their way. Immediately, they make ignorant comments and ridicule the man because, from what they can tell, he does not meet their standards. They don’t know this man personally. All they see is his miniscule boat compared to their massive ship. These people resemble society as a whole. “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” is a perfect example of how the world is run and has run since the beginning of time. No matter how anyone talks, dresses, or acts, someone will have something to say about it. Someone will judge someone else. Age, gender, and race do not matter. No one is immune to judgment. That’s just how the world works, unfortunately. Even though this story was published over fifty years ago, the issues presented are still alive today. Struggling whether to follow the ordinary means of society or one’s own individuality may never cease, but encouragement and confidence can work wonders on the perceptions of one another.
In the story Harrison Bergeron, we see a subtle theme of cheating the system or trying to get ahead in one way or another. As humans, I believe that we are born with a desire to break the rules or cheat the system. Hazel suggests that George takes some of the lead balls out of the bags he has to carry as a handicap so that he can relax and be less tense. The reader finds out that this act is illegal, punishable by two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball taken out. This was enough to scare George from taking out any balls but I believe that if this were to take place in the real world, our prisons would be full of people trying to lessen their burden. This theme of cheating the system is also exemplified in the actions of Harrison Bergeron. He feels that he is superior to everyone else and therefore can do whatever he wants regardless of the laws set by the government and obeyed by most citizens. There are always going to be people like this in the world. People will always complain about how badly changes need to be made in society and how they are not being treated equally and when they finally get what they think they want, they still find reasons to complain. The society described in this story is supposed to be ideal and perfectly equal but still people are not happy. Human desires are ever-changing and can never be fully satisfied, thus causing a desire to break the rules and get ahead.
"Why Don't You Look Where You're Going" is a short story that portrays the idea of conformity and then nonconformity. In the middle of the open water a man is on his small sailboat, sailing with leisure. The man is awakened to see a huge ocean liner looming on the horizon coming straight at him. The passengers of the ship line the decks to catch a glimpse of the man in the sailboat. The people in the boat are representative of people society conforming to one another. They all are so eager to throw out judgements about the man in the sailboat, one after the other. But the man in the boat is representative of nonconformity. He is alone in the middle of the ocean doing as he pleases and isn't really concerned about anything else. The ocean liner narrowly misses swallowing the mans sailboat whole. This again parallels the idea of conformity. If any person is the least bit different, society is so eager to label them and throw them to the side. The phrase, "the road less traveled by" coined by Robert Frost, is applicable to this story. An extremely prevalent theme today is how social media really affects a person. As unique and different as an individual may be... Their social media accounts can tell a different story. People may try to portray themselves as something they are not in order to gain followers or likes. This in turn creates a false sense of feeling accepted by those "around them." Especially for teenagers, the idea of validation through the number of likes you receive is becoming an issue. We become so obsessed with living through an app that we are not really experiencing what life has directly infront of us. We conform to social norms. The downside/ idea representative of nonconformity would be not living through a social media app and actually going out and doing things to experience them, not just to post online.
In the story, “Harrison Bergeron”, the modern American theme displayed is the theme of perfection. Perfection is shown in this futuristic society where everyone is equal and everyone is treated the same. It is a goal in which every society strives for yet it is such an unrealistic goal. There is no such thing as perfection when it comes to equality. There will always be people who believe that they are better than everyone else, that no one should be treated the exact same way that they are treated. Our country has fought so hard for the equality of women and African Americans. While we all have the same rights, no one is treated the same because we are all still different. Being different makes us imperfect. The story explains how certain groups of people have to change in order to blend in with everybody else. These unordinary people have to go through extraordinary measures to become just like everyone else. They have to mask their faces because they are too beautiful, mask their intelligence, and carry around heavy weights to hide their strength. The quote that our society lives by today is, “If you got it, flaunt it.” Don’t be afraid to hide your beauty, intelligence or strength. God made us like this for a reason, to share with the world what makes us unique. Striving for perfection is boring and can undermine the potentials that so many bright people have.
“Harrison Bergeron” shows that it would be nice if everyone was treated and made equally, but in reality that is not close to possible. That is the beauty of the human world, we are each our own unique being, with our own special purpose. In “Harrison” if someone was seen to be more powerful than the norm then they were to be taken down by physical handicaps. The beautiful ballerina must wear a mask to conceal her face, and Harrison must be suited with scrap metal to restrain his strenght. George must hinder his intelligence with an earpiece that bothers him every twenty seconds. The people are scared of their government. Today people may not be necessarily scared but maybe ashamed of their government. Currently our government has been faced with issues concerning race and shootings. Many people believe that the white police officers have been favored in these cases. Then in others it is obvious (to me atleast) who was at fault. If we have worked so hard to equality for all people why is race or sex a continuous problem in our society? I think our government will always have flaws, but we have come far from the past. Racism is still a big problem, but not as huge as it was. People are starting to be more accepting, however there are still those who will never conform. Harrison also shows how reliant people are on the television. I know when I turn on World News, most of its headlines are of shootings, accidents, terrorism, or right now bad weather. The point is tv is a huge part of Americans lives, and can sometimes bring unnecessary stress or anger. I think it’s sad that on the news there are not as many inspiring or happy topics these days. Just like in "Harrison", Hazel and George were watching the news and their son’s own death.
The short story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” portrays the conflict between the nonconformist and society, which is an idea that is still relevant in today’s modern world. The Flying Dutchman in the little boat represents those who do not conform to society (outcasts and individualists). Everyone aboard the gigantic cruise liner represents those who conform to society. While the cruise liner is heading in one direction, the little boat is heading in the opposite direction. The Flying Dutchman is ridiculed by those on the cruise liner because he is different and not following the expected norm. For the majority of the story, the people aboard the cruise liner acknowledge that there is something sailing towards them, but they cannot figure out exactly what is traveling against the norm. This demonstrates the concept of society acknowledging outcasts, but not always supporting their decisions to be individuals. In today’s world, people are encouraged to be themselves and to not do something just because everyone else is doing it. Although we may encourage nonconformity these days, there are still people who do not accept others for the way they are. When the Flying Dutchman repeats the phrase “why don’t you look where you’re going?” I interpret it as “why don’t you look around and try something different for once?” The Flying Dutchman is being different by going against the norm of society and by asking the cruise liner to look where it’s going, he is encouraging others to join him as a nonconformist.
“Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” focuses on the theme of conformity versus nonconformity in society. Clark demonstrates this theme through realistic characters aboard an ocean liner that encounters a sailor on a boat at sea. The ocean liner, a “sainted leviathan”, represents society as it charges through the ocean ignoring anything it its path. The description “sainted leviathan” is appropriate for the ship as leviathan means sea monster, indicating that society can be vicious, but still “sainted”. The passengers on the ship represent those in society who are conformists, meaning that they follow society’s ideal laws, regulations, and ideas about how everyone should act. When they see the Flying Dutchman in his little sailboat with the black flag, they do not know what is in their path. This trouble with realizing what is in their path shows the way people in society treat nonconformists, acting as if nonconformity is a foreign idea that is not tolerated. Our society often judges too quickly those who seem to stray from the path that everyone walks. These nonconformists usually act differently, wearing different clothes, participating in different activities, or enjoying different music. I believe that our society has slightly improved in this area of judgment, but still needs to eradicate it completely. This can often be difficult because of the way our society seems to promote conformity. The government enforces certain laws, permitting people to only act certain ways or love certain people. The media stresses that to be “cool”, one must be skinny, popular, and know the latest trends. Students in school segregate into different groups and often judge others who are not interested in the same hobbies or activities. Just as the ship flies through the ocean almost hitting the sailboat, our society charges through the world, dismissing those who stray from the path.
The short story “Harrison Bergeron” addresses the unattainable desire to establish a society bound by utter equality. Vonnegut portrays this theme of uniformity by implementing a Handicapper General, who is responsible for upholding the equality of all people and regulating their natural abilities. In the story, those of higher intelligence are handicapped by a radio in their ear that transmits a sharp noise every twenty seconds to keep one from taking unfair advantage of their brain. Additionally, those who are stronger are forced to wear weighted bags around their necks, and those more beautiful must wear masks or wavy glasses to cover their faces. Today, it is argued whether the rich should be forced to pay higher taxes or give up more of their money to help provide for the unemployed and less fortunate. Similar to in the story, it does not seem fair that those of higher capabilities in society must be drawn back by those who have less. Not only this, but in modern times, one can see the increasing control that the government is gaining over its citizens, as well as their increasing vulnerability. The people in this story have been convinced that abiding by handicaps and conforming is the only feasible option for society. If one is different from the norm and is naturally talented, then he or she is considered an outlaw to society whose abilities must be undermined. In the modern series “Divergent,” those who do not confine their skills to one faction are immediately punished, and are eventually killed. This represents the fallacious perception that it is crippling to society to foster individuals who are unique and choose not to conform to the standards of society. Just as it ought to be today, society should not enforce equality of all people by limiting their abilities, but by rather encouraging and accepting their diverse qualities and individuality.
The short story “Why Don’t You Look Where Your Going?” is very symbolic of many aspects of society. One prominent representation in the story is the issue of conformity v.s. nonconformity. The cruise liner, or “Sainted Leviathan” as it is referred to in the story, represents society. Although the passengers of the massive ship have different talents and abilities, they are all on the same boat together heading down the same path, toward the same unknown destination. The man in the tiny boat, referred to as the Flying Dutchman in the story, represents the nonconformist. He can be identified as the outcast of society, and therefore someone who has chosen his own unique path. He is traveling in a different direction than the massive cruise liner, to undoubtedly a vastly different destination. In Modern America, conformity v.s. nonconformity has become a relevant topic. However, I believe there are many different levels of nonconforming, each different in their own way and neither necessarily better than the other. For instance, a man can be considered a nonconformist for quitting is sufficient 9-5 job in order to follow his life-long dream of starting his own business in which he can be his own boss. Yes, this is a path less traveled, but still many feet have trotted it. Someone else may be considered a nonconformist for refusing a college education in order to travel the world to consume the beauties of nature and a multitude of cultures. This is certainly not the path society insists one shall embark on, and therefore it is often not followed. However, people have done it, and in the future others will as well. I don’t believe conforming is so “cut and dry.” People choose to be different in many ways, some just more severe than others. Each level of nonconformity has its own benefit to the world and society as a whole. In fact, the passengers on the ocean liner take great interest in the Flying Dutchman and his life. Although, the nonconformist approach is often rejected by society, there is certainly much to be gained from those that accept the challenge. Where would America be today if 55 angered colonists decided to simply accept King George’s unjust laws, and therefore never drafted and sighed the Declaration of Independence? Fear drives conformity. Refusing to conform conquers the greatest human hindrance, fear itself, and therefore seemingly impossible feats can be accomplished. This is why, 239 years later, the United States of America is the most powerful independent nation in the world and is attempting to spread life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all of mankind.
The short story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” addresses a few important themes. One of the main themes is the one addressing society and conformity. In the story a large passenger ship is sailing along the ocean carrying a group of people. The most of people on this ship all seem to think the same way and act the same way. One day while sailing they look out onto the ocean and see another large and strange object moving towards their large passenger ship. After observing and guessing at the unfamiliar object they finally come the conclusion that the other object is just another boat sailing along the ocean. However, this boat is different from theirs because theirs only a single passenger sailing on the boat. The ship full of people are so captivated by the boat with the single man sailing in it. The man represents the “non conformist” in a world full of people who live conformed lives. Although the group doesn’t understand why this man sails alone they seem to admire him. They praise the man for being able to speak up at them and ask “Why don’t you look where you’re going?.” I feel like the people on the boat are much like those in society today. We always seem to follow the crowd and are too nervous to speak up or stand up for ourselves. When someone else goes against the group everyone praises that one person for being such a “rebel”. Today’s society is similar to the group of passengers sailing together. We all act the same and think the same and just like the passengers we all get shocked when we see that one unique person whose strong enough to sail out on their own.
Another theme in “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” is a theme that suited the time period, which this story was written in. This story was written in the 50’s back when women were belittled in society. In the story one of the characters is referred to as the “masculine woman”. She is given this name because she was actually smart and spoke up. Her intelligence is looked at a un-woman like to the other passengers on the boat. She is the only person on the ship who realizes that the unfamiliar object in the water is a actually a boat. Even though she is right, she isn’t praised because a man repeats the same thing she said. The “masculine woman” also corrects another man when he tells the passengers that the boat will fall to the ocean. However her correction is looked at as heartlessness because she tells the honest truth instead of being sensitive like a true “woman”. Today’s society has changed a lot since this short story was written. Today, women are allowed to speak up and be serious about issues in society. Women are no longer looked at as inferior beings in society. A woman can express her intelligence today without being called “masculine.”
“Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” is the infamous short story that uses the extended metaphor of a huge ocean liner to represent the immense and overwhelming power of society and the significance of conformity vs. nonconformity. The ocean liner plows through the ocean on its steadfast path, immune to an obstacles or deterrents from reaching its final destination, just as society continues to evolve and move forward without anything to hold it back. Those aboard the liner are carefree but curious. The members of society do not often worry about the evolution of society itself, but rather the issues that appear on a day-to-day basis. Only when a small speck appears in the distance do people begin to worry about the path of the liner: will the speck disrupt the liner’s path? Why is the object there? The speck in the distance, which is soon revealed to be a small sailboat, is the equivalent of a person, object, or event that is nonconforming to the mould that society has set in place. The events that occurred in Ferguson, MO, as a response to the unjust verdict of Darren Wilson’s case and opposition to police brutality, is an event that may come to mind as a representation of a modern-day “Flying Dutchman.” Though not an individual nonconformist, the event certainly goes against the grain of society—the protests that have occurred as a part of the movement to eliminate unnecessary police brutality have caused a stir in recent news. Many of the metaphors in “Why…Going” apply to the ripple effect of the Ferguson (and nationwide) protests. Those who are on board the massive liner are at first oblivious to the event—until the issue is noticed by the tall man in the gray topcoat. As news is spread and the event becomes more prominent, knowledge of the event becomes more widespread. News sources may be skewed, though people blindly follow the false sources in order to acquire a faint glimpse of the whole picture. In “Why…Going?” the fat man spreads the news to those around him who are curious, even though they themselves are not witnesses. As the sailboat grows closer, the leviathan plows forward and is expected to run the sailboat over. If it hit the small sailboat, the passenger would be forced to either come aboard the liner or drown. Those who are a part of the peaceful protests of Ferguson are attempting to avoid being drowned by the media, by society, by the false spreading of information. As society continues to glide forward through the open waves with no regard to obstacles in its path, it is all the nonconformists can do to continue with their lifestyles without being consumed by the rhythmic advancing of society.
In Walter Von Tilburg’s Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?, themes and characters embodying society and most of its components are used to convey their very similar messages about their views on society at the time that they were written. Most of these themes are still very relevant in today’s modern American society. Thematically, it discusses the effects of conforming in society. Tilburg’s description is probably the most accurate one, as society assimilates all and pushes away all that try to resist. The great cruise ship is society itself. Society itself is a wonderful thing, as it brings civilization, law, order, and many other niceties. On the flip side, the great ship tends to accept only a narrow band of passengers. Even then, the passengers are divided. Not everyone has the privilege to be on the top deck. The less fortunate are crammed into the bottom decks. In fact, the bottom deckers make up the majority of the passengers. This can be seen in modern America. The rich and privileged make up a tiny proportion of society, but the great majority are the poor and middle class. Those who do not conform are isolated, expelled, and driven out of the way. The Flying Dutchman is the little man just trying to live his own life. Character selection is also important in directing this theme. The characters on the cruise ship represent the various components of society. The tall man, the fat man, the young man, and the masculine young lady can be seen as a microcosm of modern American society of sorts. The man on the little boat is the non conformer, the rioter of today. He may not be right, but he follows his own little path.
The story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” is all about society and conforming to what society wants. The “sainted leviathan” is society and the “Flying Dutchman” represents those who don’t conform to society. As the human beings that we are, we are quick to judge a person or a situation. In the story everyone is lined up on the side of the ship trying to see what is in the water and they discuss and question what they believe it to be. When we see someone today or a situation we automatically judge it without actually knowing what is happening on a deeper level. We judge someone by what they wear and how they look automatically. We never think to look beyond what we see on the outside immediately, rather we try to pick out their flaws to boost ourselves up and to make us feel superior. We judge each other by the clothes that we wear and the amount of makeup someone puts on. We call each other names based of the way we look or just because we think it’s funny. Society today expects us to dress a certain way, look a certain way, and to do as we are told. I once read something that went along the lines of: “go to school, do your homework, go to college, get a job, get married, have a family, and repeat after me… I am free.” What this is saying is that from birth we have, for the most part, a set plan for us and we tell ourselves that we are free yet we continue to go as society tells us. If we stray from what society wants we are criticized and left as outsiders rather than being able to be who we are and live comfortable with that.
Themes and ideas discussed in “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” are relevant to our society today. The passengers aboard the large ship represent the conformists of modern society. The passengers were calm, “The sense of well-being in the passengers was made firm by the knowledge that their fate was somebody else’s responsibility for the next three days.” These people are similar to people in our society today. Some people choose to lead and take control of their own fate while others choose a passive route. The ones who choose to be passive, rely heavily on a higher power such as our government or our military. These people choose to believe that they cannot make a difference because they are just one person just as “there was nothing an ordinary mortal could do about a ship like this.” They have the mindset that if they don’t like something, the just have to go along with it any way. This is relevant to the issue of global warming. Some people choose not to participate in recycling or other projects to help reduce global warming because they rely on a higher power to do so. Having such a passive mindset is detrimental to our society and in order for there to be advances in medicine and technology, people must be active and take control of their own fate.
The overall theme of “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” is individualism vs. conformity. The Flying Dutchman represents the individual. He chooses to be different from the norm, which are the people aboard the large ship. They are all the same. They have no control over what happens to them; however, the Flying Dutchman has complete control of his fate. The people on the large ship are the conformist and there are more of them. There aren’t very many people in our society today who are individualist. It might be because they are scared as to how society might view them. They may be rejected. Being an individualist is difficult. The Flying Dutchman illustrates that when he worked rapidly to keep his small boat afloat and out of harm’s way as the large ship approached it. The ocean represents the world/ society and there may always be a battle between individualism and conformity in our society.
Harrison Bergeron is a satire that mocks how the government can control individuals in society. In this story, individuals are forced to limit themselves and what they can do.In today's society, the same thing can be seen happening. Those unemployed and poor are being limited today and their abilities quashed. They must focus on living instead off working on teaching their potential. The struggle for these individuals is similar to George's struggle. George struggle with an ear piece that transmits loud noises into his ear so that his thoughts are scattered. If not forced to wear this he could work on solving problems and enjoying life rather than focusing on the sounds. Whether in a satirical story our society today, there will always be a struggle for one to reach his own potential.
A major theme in the story "Harrison Bergeron" is total equality. In this story, everyone's talents are essentially taken away by handicapping them in any way that makes them superior over the average person. For example, because George was more intelligent than the average person, he was forced to wear a radio in his ear which would make a different sound about every twenty minutes to scatter his thoughts. He also has to wear bags filled with lead balls so that he is not faster than his wife, Hazel. The Handicap General also forces attractive people to wear masks to cover their beauty so that nobody would ever feel like "what the cat dragged in." Harrison is seven feet tall, handsome, and an athlete so he had been given the most handicaps of them all. Harrison is seen as a threat because he is superior in both a physical and a mental standard. In the news announcement, he is described as a dangerous man because he is a genius and an athlete on the loose. He is shown as the rebel who refuses to conform. He decides that showcasing his personality and individuality is worth dying for. The government tries so hard to create this equality. In the introduction to the story it says, "and everyone was finally equal." People today can get jealous when others are better at sports or get better grades in school but everyone has different talents that set him or her apart from the rest of the world. It is what makes us unique and what gives us doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Everyone has different goals and aspirations in life which cause us to be different people in the world. Some think that everybody should be equal because it takes away the competition and jealousy and there is no pressure to preform. This story, as exaggerated as it may be, is an excellent example of why the inequality of people make our world unique and how it makes people special. This story also deals with the issue of government control. There is controversy over how much control the government should have over its people. Government control is a slippery slope. Too much control is considered a dictatorship while not enough can cause the nation to descend into anarchy. The government in "Harrison Bergeron" forces everyone to conform and become equal, taking away their individuality. This story takes government control, equality, and conformity to the extreme to show how dangerous they all are when they are taken too far.
In the story “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?,” the common theme of one person or outcast against the rest of society is evident. The man in the small boat, or the Flying Dutchman represents this theme in this story. While all of the different classes of society are represented on the ocean liner, the Flying Dutchman represents his own sect in not being part of society. He is alone unlike all of the other stereotypes on board the ship. Not only is this man different from society, he is made fun of for it. The people on the boat that are a part of society ridicule this man who is all alone. This represents how society treats its outsiders perfectly. If one wishes to act on his own and not conform like everybody else, he or she is mocked for it. Society’s oppression rears its ugly head once again in this story as it does in many other stories and in real life as well. I feel that society should not be like this, but it is seemingly impossible to change. Those who strive to be different are almost immediately shot down by the leaders of society (literally in “Harrison Bergeron). There will always be the Flying Dutchman who may be brilliant or incredible in his own way, but will always be derided by the rest of society simply because he is different. Prejudice can be found almost anywhere in the world whether it be a story or an era of slavery.
A common American theme is conformity and nonconformity. Throughout much of American history, there has been a conflict of the pressure to conform to society and standards and the desire to stand out and break the mold. “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” is a short allegorical story that shows the conflict between society and a nonconformist. In the story there is a huge ocean liner that is filled with comfortable passengers. Although all the passengers are different from one another, they all seek to conform. When people see others crowding around, soon the entire starboard wall of the ship is filled with people craning to see. Many of the passengers are unable to see anything and do not know what is happening, but still they crowd around because that’s what everyone else is doing. As the passengers began to crowd and the information of the unknown object began to spread around the boar, none of the passengers give “any citation of authority.” They all seek to stand out, but when they do so in this way they conform even more. The need to conform shown by the passengers is still relevant in modern times in America. In our culture there is deep need to meet certain standards of beauty and physical appearance. In order to conform and meet these standards, people spend thousands of dollars for product and surgery to fit in. Many Americans seek to conform by changing their physical appearance or buying the newest technology and buying certain clothes. Americans spend a huge amount of time, energy, and money trying to conform to society. This conformity is the same as the conformity in “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?”
The short story “Harrison Bergeron” demonstrates what society would be like if we tried to make it so that everyone was equal in every way. The story makes a mockery of this mentality by means of excessive exaggeration. The major means of how the government attempts to make everyone equal is through “handicaps” which deny each individual in society of showing off any talents or skills that may make them seem superior to any one else. At a point in the story, Hazel tells George to remove his fourty-seven pound handicap bag so that he can rest. To this suggestion, George replies, “If I tried to get away with it, then other people'd get away with it and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn’t want that, would you?” When George says “the dark ages”, he is referring to our modern society. This shows the relationship of the story to our modern world. The people in the story have been brainwashed by the government to believe that being competitive is wrong and can lead to an era of darkness and societal destruction. In actuality, it is their era that is dark saturated with corruption by the government. The handicaps forced on the people by the government are silly, excessive, and unreasonable while the punishments issued in the system exceed the degrees of the crimes. An example of this is in the fact that deafening noises are screeched in the ears of every intelligent person as a punishment for just having an intelligent thought. In hindsight, the story actually glorifies the competitive nature of modern society by showing what it would be like to live in a world where mediocrity is acceptable and applauded. This story is still relevant today because it reminds us that our strengths, talents, and differences not only add to our individuality, but also benefit the structure of society as a whole.
“Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going?” is a story that explores one of the most prevalent issues that face modern America: do we conform to society’s expectations and ways of life, or do we set off on our own, braving the world alone, and becoming a true individual. In “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going,” an ocean liner described as a leviathan sails through the ocean with great speed. This monster of a ship represents society and its unwavering speed. By drawing a line between the ship and society, one can see how society and its preconceived notions no longer need maintaining. It is an entity that is self-sustaining. Just as the ship sails, fuels, and steers for itself, so does society keep its stereotypes and notions. No one ensures the survival of these ideas in society. Instead, they are notions that we are all born into. They are environmental “facts” that everyone seems to hold true. We never investigate these preconceptions; instead, we just take them at face value, and use them in our everyday lives. The man on the little ship which found itself in the path of the leviathan is the outcast of society. He represents the people who do think for themselves, who have questioned what society has put in front of him. He has made up his own thoughts as to how society should work, and why things are the way they are. He does not take a backseat in the living of his life, but instead thinks for himself, taking nothing at face value. However, just as the ocean liner and its passengers think he’s crazy for being in their way, so too does society not pay much attention to the outcasts. In fact, the outcasts do little to nothing to stop the sailing speed of society. They were but a momentary thought that distracts everyone for mere seconds. But once they pass, so too do the outcast’s thoughts and reasoning pass. “Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going” offers the reader a chance to think about the society he or she lives in. It allows them to suddenly take a closer look at what conceptions around them they have been born into.
Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut shows what it would be like in a world of true equality, with a government that makes sure of that. In this world, citizens are tortured and their talents are taken away from them so that everyone can be equal. This government uses physical “handicaps” in order to achieve this equality; smarter citizens are tortured by frequent distracting noises and stronger people are weighed down by heavy led balls. Any uniqueness or individuality someone has is repressed, resulting in a dumb and slow-moving society that couldn’t possibly make any progress. By removing these special attributes, these peoples’ humanity is being stolen from them. This story addresses the same issue of conformity that Why Don’t You Look Where You’re Going? addresses. Many stories revolve around themes similar to this because conformity is something that modern America has always, especially now, been dealing with. In such a fast paced and quickly changing society we are currently in, it is hard to keep up. Acting with social pressures on each individual, we feel the need to conform and “be like everyone else.” Suppressing our true selves can take away many special talents and diversifying traits that one can offer to society. Enforced equality has been minimally demonstrated in America, but American citizens almost self-enforce it in order to fit in. The issue of enforced equality has been shown in many modern works, including “The Giver,” in which a society is made truly equal, leading to its downfall. Even in the real world, countries like North Korea have proven that this type of governing is repressive and weak.
In "Why don't you look where you're going?" The theme that stood out to me and that is quite obvious is the idea of a nonconformist standing up to the rest of the conforming society. In our world today there are the conformists who are aware and are purposely taking a stand, while at the same time there are people who are not conforming but not even know it because what they are doing is normal to them. In the story the imagery that really stood out about this theme and symbolized this what the fact that the Dutchman was sailing in his own boat , which is a hell of a lot smaller than the large ocean liner. That told me that there are very few nonconformists compared to the number of comformists which are all on the ocean liner. Also the fact that the boat was sailing in the opposite direction showed how the Dutchman was not planning on doing the same thing as the rest of society. He was doing him, and making his own path. While he was doing that all of the people on the ocean liner who represent the comformists of our society were ridiculing and trying to pull the Dutchman back. It is just like the people in our society, reminding me of Marshawn Lynch. In his press conferences he is practically mute, and he sticks to short responses that really make no sense to the questions bein asked. People make fun of and laugh at him, but Lynch actually has a reason for this because he really feels that all these questions are meaningless so instead he will give the time and address of his next charity event, to help and raise awareness of the inner city kids he is supporting. So this story really does support the theme of a noncomformist going against the rest of society, by the Dutchman sailing away from the rest.
In "Harrison Bergeron," the major theme is conformity and equality. Anyone who has any outstanding qualities is given something to neutralize such characteristics. All of the community is negligent and has no idea what beautiful qualities others have to offer. Beautiful faces are masked, graceful people are burdened with sashweights, intelligent people are given mental handicap radios in their ear, and those with beautiful voices have to apologize for such grace. If these people don't conform, they will be prisoners and sometimes killed. When Harrison Bergeron is killed at the end those who watched forgot about this event immediately as to not start an outbreak. Harrison refused to be equal to all. He chose not to conform, and payed the price. This story reminds me somewhat of the novel Divergent. The government can brainwash all to manipulate memory, and everyone is in uniform and given a role in society to rule out competition among all. If they broke the roles or chose not to join a faction, they would be considered outcasts for life and be factionless. This goes to show that conformity or lack of is a problem that will most likely last forever.
“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is an extreme example of the ideology of modern society. No one is allowed to be “better” at any particular thing than someone else. In the story, the government requires people who excel in a certain area to wear a “handicap” in order to bring them back down to average. According to the government, this prevents anyone from feeling badly about themselves. For example, George was judged to be “too smart,” so he was required by law to wear an ear piece that would jolt sharp noises into his ear to inhibit his thought process. As a society, so called “social fairness” is an ever present and continuously growing issue. It’s hard to open your mouth nowadays without backhandedly insulting someone. People who excel at something are often alienated by those who do not have the same strength, possibly out of jealousy. I’m just as guilty as everyone else, as I have found myself feeling negatively about a person or people for being “too perfect.” Deep down, I know that’s wrong, that we all have God given strengths and weaknesses, but envy is a difficult emotion to repress. There is a significant strive in our modern world for equality, even though it would be impossible to reach true equality. Some of these strives are good: equal rights for women and men, equal rights for people of different races. Other times it’s not as good. I see it every day. Someone may tell someone else to stop singing because it makes them feel bad about themselves, or to get a few questions wrong on a test so everyone else in the class won’t look as bad, but would that really be fair? The short story focuses on the need for fairness. I think we can all agree (though we’d never admit it) that we’d be fine with someone else being brought down to “average,” but when it came time for our own talents to be inhibited, we’d go up in arms. That’s the problem with this whole situation. Instead of focusing on how we compare to others, we should instead be focusing on becoming the best version of ourselves.
The satire, Harrison Bergeron, by Kurt Vonnegut ridicules the belief that all Americans must be equal. It also deals with the themes of weapons and beauty. The Declaration of Independence stated that all men are created equal, but this satire gives that phrase a whole new meaning. Instead of the intended understanding that there is a need for equal opportunities among humans, this satire takes it one or two steps further by entirely setting the population equal with the same levels of intelligence, personalities, etc. This equality is attempted to be achieved by giving handicaps to those who stand out among his or her peers. For example, George was extremely intelligent, so he had to wear a radio in his ear that tuned to a government transmitter. This device would take away any advantages that he may have due to his advanced brain power by sending sharp noises. Another common modern theme that this story covers is the utilization of weapons and violence to get people to succumb to one’s desired demands. The Handicapper General ends up killing the Emperor, Harrison, and the Empress, the ballerina, in order to establish order in town again. The modern society tends to judge people based on their appearances instead of their characters. An individual may have an unpleasant appearance, but he or she could have a beautiful soul because beauty is not skin deep. In the story, the ballerina had a physical handicap that made her unattractive which would represent an unappealing individual; underneath her mask, she was “blindingly beautiful” which shows that people should look past physical appearance because he or she could be a good person. Many modern American themes were discussed in this story, but equality, weapons, and beauty were three major ones.
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