Harrison Bergeron Comparative Essay

“Harrison Bergeron,” a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and 2081, its movie adaptation, are stories that take place in a totalitarian society where everyone is supposedly equal, but are actually not. Harrison Bergeron, the main character, escapes jail and tries to show society that their lifestyle isn’t equal and that greatness is okay to have, but in the end, Harrison ultimately fails and nobody learns anything. “Harrison Bergeron” and 2081 are stories where characters are heavily symbolic (for political and religious purposes), but whose actions are ultimately ironic in their meaning for readers.
Harrison Bergeron, the main character, is portrayed to be symbolized as Jesus Christ in the story. Harrison doesn't believe in the system and tries to be the savior and save the society. In the chapter “ Yes, she’s a Christ figure, too“ of How to Read Literature like a Professor, Foster explains that being a christ figure is sacrificing yourself for everyone or a person. Harrison portrayed a christ figure or Jesus because he risked his life to show the people how the
In the chapter “ Is that a symbol?” of his book How to Read Literature like a Professor, Foster explains that everything is a symbol, anything can have a deeper meaning. In paragraph 74 in the short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut uses the sentence “ They leaped like deer on the moon.” to represent the character that works with the government, Diana Moon. It symbols dancing all over the moon(her name). In paragraph 76 in the short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut uses the sentence “ The studio ceiling was thirty feet high, but each leap brought the dancers nearer to it.” to represent them getting their