The success of the slave revolt in Haiti the only successful one in history Essays

The success of the slave revolt in Haiti the only successful one in history Essays The success of the slave revolt in Haiti the only successful one in history Paper The success of the slave revolt in Haiti the only successful one in history Paper Essay Topic: History The Haitian Slave revolt of 1791 has been deemed by some the only successful one in history. This has often been measured by the successes that it brought for the black slaves on the island of Saint Domingo (now Haiti), namely independence from France, the abolition of the institution of slavery and the destruction of the dominant white population and the plantation system1. What used to be the most prosperous colony of the western hemisphere2 then became the first whole scale act of emancipation in a major slave society and the creation of modern Haiti, the first modern black state3. Also the events of 1791 inspired many more, both black and white to take up arms against those who used the slave trade for their own gain. Although not all achieved what the Haitians did, by the end of the 19th century slavery was abolished across the globe. This indirectly can be said to be the slave revolts greatest success. Firstly the immediate successes of the Haitian slave revolt have to be explained, in order to see why it was more successful than all others before it. This can be attributed to a number of factors including the horrendous situation existing before the revolt, the leadership of the rebellion, and the problems facing the invading armies. Life for the black slaves before the revolt took place was quite appalling, perhaps only as bad as other colonies but still dreadful enough to make the slaves rebel. Slaves at that time had few rights and those reforms that were carried out in Paris, were commonly ignored by the slave masters in Haiti. Furthermore slave owners offered no hope of emancipation4, due to the large profits the island was bringing via the large slave labour plantation system. Similarly there were many at the top in France who believed that Frances colonies existed only for the profit of the mother country5. Hence few could buy their own freedom6 and manumission was rare7. Although officially protected from some abuse, in reality slaves could be tortured, mutilated or killed by their owners8. The social conditions in Haiti were appalling, especially on the plantations. Slaves were forced to complete back breaking labour9 for long hours in the hot sun with no rest. Failure to work, because of any reason, even exhaustion, would often result in severe punishment. As a result many died from overwork. Also the slaves had very poor living quarters with food levels that barely met their required food levels. Starvation was often rife making the death rate soar among the slaves. This is shown by the fact that more than 800,000 slaves were imported to the colony in the 1700s, yet in 1789 the population was about 450,00010. In a more general context the French never set up any form of education of the locals, leaving the vast majority illiterate11 . The prospect of freedom was no better alternative as there was racial discrimination in most towns, causing the separation of the different ethnic groups, whites, mulattoes (mixed black and white ancestry) and freed blacks, and also a hardening of attitudes towards one another. These conditions therefore were the breeding grounds for discontent and frustration. Many chose to end their suffering by suicide; others ran away to the forests in their thousands, thus creating the basis for the revolt in 1791. However social conditions alone did not make the revolt an inevitable success. Violent conflicts between the black slaves and white colonists were common12 with bands of runaway slaves carrying out hit and run attacks throughout the colony13. These insurrections were always swiftly and severely dealt with and often collapsed because of a lack of centralised organisation and leadership14 and military training. However this was not lacking in the Haitian revolt. Its many leaders each had different qualities that they brought to the rebellion and their military and strategic thinking combined was a major factor in their victory. The main leader was Francois Dominique Toussaint LOuverture. Despite being born of slave parents he worked for a benevolent master who allowed him to be educated. Soon Toussaint began to read history, politics and military tactics, especially those of Julius Caesar. Moreover his talent for administration15 got him promoted quickly and he soon set out to make the masses of untrained and illiterate blacks into an army capable of fighting European troops16. Named the black Spartacus17 he was heralded the organisational genius of the revolution18. Those under him also provided the revolt with much experience and advice, particularly Henri Christophe (who fought in the American revolution), Alexandre Sabes Petion (who was educated at a military school in Paris), Jean Pierre Boyer (a free mulatto educated in France who joined the French military force for a while soon siding with his countrymen helping to unify the group), and Jean Jacques Dessalines (raised a slave and joined the rebellion quite early on). As well as the leaders many within the slave revolt (about 800) had also fought in the American Revolution (1775-1783) and thereby gained some military experience19. Inspired by the French Revolution of 1789 the rebel leaders saw that the realm of the possible had been expanded and they started to assert the rights of their own people. The revolt of 1791 took weeks of planning by the rebel leaders and other elite slaves. Then the slaves started to rebel on August 14th in the larger plantations in the north with blacks burning down plantations and crops and massacring every white person they encountered20. Free blacks joined them, as did mulattoes and soon the army was over 100,000 strong. In one month over 1,000 plantations fields, and factions had been torched. However the success wasnt only to be attributed to the skill of the victorious blacks but also to the failings of and problems incurred by the French and the invading armies of Britain and Spain. The first event that undermined the French government was the French revolution itself which weakened the government and caused splits among the whites of the island as to whom they should follow, the king or the republic. Those mulattoes, who considered themselves superior to the blacks also saw the revolution as a time for them to share in the privileges of the white elite. So whilst internal conflicts dominated the attention of the few elite, it provided a unique opportunity for the 500,000 (out of a total Haiti population of 570,000) black slaves to plan and rebel with high chances of success. Another factor that greatly hindered those trying to quell the rebellion and restore order was disease. The British in particular fell victim to tropical disease which thinned their ranks far more quickly than combat against the French21. Also Frances army was decimated by yellow fever especially during the second invasion by Napoleon when he sent out forces to try to recapture the island, wanting to put it under the control of a white general rather than Toussaint. Once the revolt had become a full scale civil war, the British and Spanish sent invasion forces, hungry for her (Frances) rich colony22 and keen to take advantage of the anarchy raging there. This prompted the French to go to war with Britain and Spain and to send its own 6,000 strong force, out to the island to fight them, also trying to appease the rebels. Initially many rebels including Toussaint had joined forces with Spain but then changed allegiance when France abolished slavery in 1974. Toussaint claimed he was ready to join the French and he would be loyal to the mother country as long as she remained loyal to blacks23. This reasoning combined with a realisation that the Spanish and British had no plans for their own abolition of slavery prompted him to become the colonies commanding general, driving Spain out by 1795 and the British by 1798. By 1801 Toussaint had restored order, winning the confidence of blacks, mulattoes and whites and becoming general governor of the island for life. So foreign intervention prompted France to appease the rebels who had destroyed her prosperous colony, in order to prevent any other power gaining a foothold. This in turn meant more military experience for the rebels, when they would later take on France, and more prestige for the movement as a whole. Napoleon was offended that Toussaint had taken control of Frances prized colony24 and undermined the position of the French whilst fighting with them. He wanted to regain complete control and reinstate slavery once again (as abolishing it had meant all slaves in all the colonies were free Napoleon reinstated slavery in every colony except Haiti). He sent a force of 16-20,000 to Saint Domingue where the army outmatched, outmanoeuvred and wore down the black army25. Many generals agreed to transfer their allegiance and Toussaint himself surrendered to the French on May 2nd 1802. He had been assured that he would able to retire quietly but instead was taken to France where he died of neglect in the dungeons of Fort de Joux26 in 1803. However this is when the leadership of the rebels shone out, as despite their main leader being taken, they fought on with even more determination, convinced that the same fate lay in store for them27. As a result they battled against the disease ridden army and that combined with the fact that France was distracted by war on the continent with Britain, and therefore was not able to send any reinforcements to help its army. Bonaparte had to concentrate his energies on the struggle in Europe28 and in April 1803 he signed a treaty allowing the purchase of Louisiana by the United States, thereby ending French ambitions in the western hemisphere29. Consequently in 1804 Dessalines declared Haiti to be the world first black republic. The Haitian slave revolt success can also be measure by the message it sent abroad, in both a positive and a negative sense. In some places the revolt chilled many white Americans ardour for emancipation measures30 convincing many that freeing slaves would result in a race war31 and they became even less willing to end slavery32. Abolitionists on the other hand such as Wilberforce, Clarkson, and James Stephen took a considerable interest in Haitian developments and used it to show how emancipation leads to progress and to prosperity33. David Rice was one person who applauded the blacks of Saint Domingue who were bravely sacrificing their lives on the altar of liberty34. But sadly the vast majority of the western world didnt agree and sought to isolate Haiti in order to prevent its idea of emancipation from spreading as a model for their own slaves. Haitis isolation continued for more than 200 years35 and this was obviously a setback for its economy and foreign relations. Not only that but the revolt itself left the country in ruins as most of the countries plantation infrastructure had been destroyed and all the experienced administrators had been eliminated36 Another major impact of the slave revolt was that racial equality and slave emancipation were put onto the agenda of the French revolution thereby benefiting all French Caribbean possessions37. Anti slavery agitation was blamed continually for igniting the black revolution and for encouraging other ones like it. The Haitian slave revolt inspired a firestorm of slave revolts including Gabriels in Richmond (1800) and an 1811 uprising in Louisiana38 (which may have involved tens of thousands of slaves) There were also major revolts in Curacao (1975), Barbados (1816), Demerara (1823), and Jamaica (1831-1832). The slave revolt did however awaken slaveholders in neighbouring countries to the possibility of a similar crisis39 and in taking Haiti out of competition in the sugar producing market it helped to stimulate slave-based production elsewhere40 especially in Cuba, Brazil and North America. The Haiti slave revolt was the first and last slave system to abolished by the slaves themselves. However despite the negative consequences of the revolt, namely that slave production increased elsewhere and the anti slavery movement incurred a setback, the positive consequences far outweigh it and therefore deem it the solely fully successful one41. It was the starting point from which slavery was seen to be immoral and unjust and by the end of 19th century all the major western powers had abolished slavery, including Britain (1834), France (1848), and the Dutch/Spanish (1886). Although the colony was eclipsed42 economically the revolt still provided a model of hope for other slaves around the globe, showing that anything was possible. It immediately succeeded because of the bad conditions beforehand, and also due to its leadership during the revolt. It succeeded in the long term as it eventually brought about the death of slavery altogether.

Analysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh Essay -- Epic of Gilgamesh, Epic p

Little did the world know before the mid-1800s that an expansive, detailed work of literature from the Third Dynasty of Ur was about to be discovered. Described as the world’s first great work of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh is normally thought an applicable document to portray the first inklings of humanity. As history tells any careful reader, clearly this is not the case. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the characters within the epic poem are instead descriptive representations of a certain time period documented once for lore. This instance and the epic story brings forth many questions: what does it mean to be a god? A friend? Most importantly, what does it mean to be a man? I argue that the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh defines masculinity to be a trait of willful action to control nature or those things considered â€Å"wild†. This is accomplished in the following ways. First, Gilgamesh’s taming of Enkidu is done very consciously, but w ith reflection later in the poem Gilgamesh tames his own harsh actions. Second, the physical monsters the two men face are vilified: both in their physical form and actions. The introduction of Enkidu is presented as a foil to Gilgamesh: a completely wild creature that can only match Gilgamesh for strength. In order to lessen the fear of that power being used for crude purposes, Gilgamesh enacts a civilizing campaign of Enkidu. The prostitute sent to seduce Enkidu is done with the intent that â€Å"the wild beasts that shared his life in the hills will reject him† (Gilgamesh 64). Though meaning the literal animals of the forest Enkidu originally lived with, this line may also serve a metaphorical purpose astation of the two working together could easily applied to the rest of society: the city had to otherize these supernatural beings in order to maintain their civilization and defend it from potential enemies. In the final analysis, masculinity is a specifically defined construct for the characters in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Masculinity, and masculine actions, are encompassed by taming whatever is considered to be â€Å"wild†. This is demonstrated with Gilgamesh’s physical taming of Enkidu and then his own personal introspective taming of actions. Additionally, non-human creatures are disparaged based on their appearance and actions. Though supernatural in style, this epic poem creates an important societal definition of what it means to be a man. For that time, the best men were the ones who happened to take actions to preserve the civilization: defense from the wild.

The impact of World War II Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The impact of World War II - Term Paper Example The roaring 20’s also give the rise to employment laws and regulations, which consisted of minimum wage, 8 hour work shifts, and 5 days of regular work. Ford was the first company to introduce this idea behind a clever strategy of consumer spending. If it enabled its workers to have spare time, they would spend it in leisure which would boost the nation’s economy. The 1920’s also was marked by the Great Depression that occurred post World War I. In addition, the 1920’s signified the ban of alcohol through prohibition, which drastically reduced the death rate from drinking. The 18th Amendment was one of the critical elements that banned.One of the more prevalent and essential events that occurred during the 1920s was discrimination and racism that plagued the nation. The rise of William Simmon in 1920’s was drastic as the emergence of the new Klan began. As immigrants continued to pour in from nations, Simmons used this as fear tactic and as an oppor tunity to reap money where he sold memberships along with life insurances. The rebirth of the KKK continues to gain strong support as, Catholics, Jews and Chinese became target of hate crime. The whole nation and even Congress itself passed the National Origins Act, which limited citizenship to immigrants. Anti-immigration legislation such as this one was a critical element as it marked the beginning of restricting immigrants after the open door policy. The Progressive Era, which lasted until the 1920’s, was a response to an industrial era and a shout for reform.... The whole nation and even Congress itself passed the National Origins Act, which limited citizenship to immigrants. Anti-immigration legislation such as this one was a critical element as it marked the beginning of restricting immigrants after the open door policy. The Progressive Era, which lasted until the 1920’s, was a response to an industrial era and a shout for reform. Its effects touched virtually all Americans and transformed the role of government in American society. The Progressive Movement was successful as it was promoted by both parties in Congress. One of the prominent players in this reform was Theodore Roosevelt, who used his passive presence to dominate the political scene. In two terms of service, he solidified the navy, won the noble prize, aggressively pursued the building of the panama canal, and played a vital role in ending the Japanese-Russian war. He gained popularity amongst his supporters and tremendously helped the nation in the reform movement. Th e New Deal was one of the most essential legislation that continues to be prominent in American history. This deal was introduced by Franklin Roosevelt, who had a vision of reform to boost the United States economy back on its feet. FDR gained so much popularity by citizens that he was elected four times due to his reputation and the ongoing of the War. The New Deal enabled the American government to passively play the role of a â€Å"big government.† Prior to the depression, society felt that the government did not play a big role in regional community. However, that soon changed as the government began to directly implement programs and services that effected peoples’ lives

Nursing Informatics Article Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nursing Informatics Article Review - Essay Example r them to be provided with all necessary information so that their provision of care can be more efficient since this will help in improving patient outcomes. Nurses have for a long time, played a pivotal role in health provision, but despite their efforts, Sensmeier notes that they are being left behind by government healthcare policies. She declares that if the government is indeed willing to reform the healthcare system, it is essential that nurses be actively involved because it is they, more than any other medical practitioner, who have an active knowledge of patient problems, as well as most weaknesses in healthcare provision. Therefore, nurses should take new technology to bring about a change in health care, and this should include an inclusion of nursing informatics in patient care. Nursing informatics should be given a prominent role in breaking the barriers that prevent nurses from being more efficient in their work because it provides them with much needed information con cerning how to bring care to their patients at a personalized level. The article recommends that the future of healthcare depends on ensuring nurses receive at least a bachelor’s degree whose significant parts involve informatics, allowing them leadership positions within healthcare as well as ensuring that they all provided with the opportunity to practice without any barriers as has previously been the case. Susan Rosenberg and Jeff Rodik in their article declare the role of bedside nurses in informatics is quite limited in scope and this is mainly because it is normally not included in their training. They state that most organizations, which have implemented go-live projects, tend to ignore including bedside nurses for ongoing maintenance as required for clinical application programs (Rosenberg & Rodik, 2012). Go-live projects tend to be discontinued after one week and this does not provide bedside nurses with ample time to utilize the system on behalf of their patients. These

Analyzing Moulin Rouge Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moulin Rouge is celebrated for its art direction, music, and performances. One of its biggest endeavors is the set design. With a combination of real sets and computer generated images, Moulin Rouge manages to showcases a 19th century Paris, France as a world of moral decadence but undeniable beauty. The set design further pushes the message of France, at this time, being a place of plague, poverty and sin; but also a place of art, music and beauty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the introduction of the film, we see an elaborate design of 19th century Paris, France. We have a detailed and inside look at Paris through the allies, cabaret bars, prostitutes, and up the rooftops to reveal a colorful and vibrant fantasy world. Just the opening sequence emphasizes how the people of France, through poverty and plague, live a life of love, art and music. So we have these two characteristics, these two sides of Paris that seem to juxtapose each other. We see this constantly through out the film; sin and beauty, love and poverty, etc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the view of the city, we then see an old broken down apartment where Christian, one of the central characters, live. The room is cluttered with broken bottles, clothes on the floor, old wooden floor, worn out walls, and the centerpiece of the room; a polished type writer on the table. This illustrates the idea that art and creativity rise above the poverty and sin of this world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the Main sets of the film are the rooftops of Paris. There we have another open view of the city at night and how it comes alive. This film is unique when it comes to set design because it uses the aid of computer generated images. So there are many instances where a character can travel through the city in an unrealistic manner. The train station, most of the city, and the Moulin Rouge are altered with computer generated images.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most important aspects of the art design is how the film’s visual language and message is established through color. The Moulin Rouge, compared to the rest of the city, is colorful and alive. The rest of the city is painted with sepia and dark colors, while the Moulin Rouge is bright with many colors; mainly gold and red. And yet it’s supposed to be an underworld where love is for sale and s... ...orce art out of the people who suffer from these flaws and imperfections. It’s as if art cannot exist without these challenges that the people of that time met. This theme is one that applies to almost every film that talks about the struggle that artists go through.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A very common picture, almost a stereotype, is the writer with a broken heart, the penniless musician, and the artist who dies of hunger. There is something romantic about the tragedy that most talent has to go through. There are several beliefs that one is caused by the other. Some would say that art and talent is forged through the difficulties of life and that through art we are able to out live these threats.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The set design and art direction almost scream the idea of how all the bad things of the world are almost worth it because of the good that comes from them. The beauty of the torn down buildings, the dying walls, the old floors, the old bed spring mattresses, men in wife beaters and suspenders, women in shredded but colorful dresses all personify this idea that people suffer and die; but through that arises art, music, poetry, beauty, truth and love.

Notes on a Scandal Essay

The title of the book offers to us an understanding what as to may be to going happen in the story. The story is written with a first person narrator and so we know that the story will be just one person’s way of thinking. Also as a reader we must ask, is the whole story unreliable when written in this diary form because it is one person’s view point? Through the involvement of Barbara in this story we do get a participant and narrator in one person, so we are invited to believe everything that this person is going to tell us about everybody relating to her. But Barbara also uses the power of control, because she does not tell as what we would like to know about her relationship with Jennifer. Her comments hint that Barbara has been obsessed in the past. From Barbara’s viewpoint we can understand that she is been too intense in the relationship with Jennifer. Barbara wept in a train station after seeing Jennifer with her new friend. This suggests that Barbara’s feelings go beyond friendship. Barbara tells as that, â€Å"From time to time one of my colleagues will call me ‘Barb’ or, even less desirably, ‘Babs’ but I discourage it.† But who would call her ‘Babs’? Everyone is scared to talk to her; she seems an unpopular person. Heller also hints to us about the similarity in age between Polly (seventeen years old and still a girl without boyfriend) and Connolly (fifteen years old, Sheba’s lover). Sheba is a forty-two-year old pottery teacher at St George’s school. After Sheba fell in love with Connolly she feels much younger and her feelings seem adolescent to the reader. Sheba’s husband is nearly the same age as Barbara around sixty years old, and both of them feel younger by having a relationship with Sheba. Barbara thinks, after the loss of Jennifer, that she has got a kindred spirit in Sheba. Barbara and her diary are inseparable; even when visiting her sister she spends more time with her diary than with the family; suggesting the diary itself has become an obsession. There are also advantages of the first person narrator, because we get the best insight into Barbara’s character. She shows the reader aspects of her private life, like when she is standing on a chair and talking into the mirror. She also describes her relationships to other people in her diary, so that the reader of the diary has really got a view of her mind. This is a device Heller uses to good effect. Barbara is describing Sheba’s character â€Å"Sheba was so pitifully alone†, but she was really describing herself and her character, so here Zoà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Heller uses irony. Barbara also writes a lot about the sexual affair between Sheba and the Connolly boy and that the public do not accept relations like this one. It seems really she could be referring to her relationship to Jennifer and the fact that the public would not accept a lesbian sexual affair between two teachers. Barbara confuses the reader with writing such things like: â€Å"I am presumptuous enough to believe that I am the person best qualified to write this small history† and â€Å"I rely upon detailed accounts provided by Sheba herself†, because we have to question Barbara’s reliability as she herself is hearing Sheba’s story â€Å"second hand.† It may be that Sheba herself is not entirely honest with Barbara and some elements of truth are lost along the way. An example could be the first kiss between Sheba and the Connolly boy, because there being few aspects of the Connolly business that Sheba has not described to Barbara. In the imagination of the first kiss it has to be the peak of the affair, because this first kiss has got so much energy and satisfaction which can allow every possibility with our feelings in this particular moment. It is situation like this that makes the reader question Barbara’s reliability. She talks with authority about situations she has not witnessed. â€Å"Certainly, there is no other friend or relative of Sheba’s who has been so intimately involved in the day-to-day business of her affair with Connolly†. The use of the â€Å"intimately† suggests a relationship not a friendship and it’s not true – Sheba didn’t tell her until she has to. â€Å"With my second blow I took the top of the boy’s head off cleanly, like an egg†. This is an example of symbolism – by breaking the sculpture, Barbara destroys the relationship. She thinks this will bring Sheba to her – showing the depth of her obsession. The affair actually ends already before it was discovered through Barbara. Heller shows us this in following sentences: â€Å"They made love rather quickly and – at Connolly’s behest – on the floor†. Also is shown Connolly’s loss of feelings: â€Å"‘Nothing like one afterwards is there?’ he said. Sheba remembers having to suppress a smile at this studied, post-coital nonchalance†. Connolly did become interested in girls his age: â€Å"Sheba remarked that her daughter liked to do the same thing when she was smoking and Connolly seemed interested by this†. From this moment on Sheba was scared to lose Connolly: â€Å"Sheba interrupted his questioning to kiss him and tell him how handsome he was†. Heller also shows us that Connolly is still a boy, even after this affair: â€Å"Connolly grimaced†. Barbara, this old lady with an unstable psyche, bites the hook which Sheba readied for her and marks this event with two gold stars in her diary: â€Å"For a split second we both looked at the boy. Then she looked back at me. There was fear in her expression but also something else – a kind of glee or amusement†. It is at this point in the novel the two obsessions collide also it’s almost as if, Sheba wants to share her experience. As well as the main two obsessions, there are also minor ones: Jennifer acquires a restraining in order against Barbara; Marcia still sees Richard at family occasions after twenty years of divorce. Sheba is fixated with Polly’s wardrobe which links in to the latter’s obsession with boys. Finally Brian uncovers the affair to the public, because it was intolerable for him to imagine Sheba being intimate with Connolly. Sheba seems to want to â€Å"share† her affair with others. This is confirmed by Sheba coming back home, after intimate contact with Steven; Sheba wants to shout at Richard, because she was feeling younger also she was absolutely proud of this affair: â€Å"Guess what, you complacent old fart? I’ve been out on the heath, getting fucked by a sixteen-year-old! What do you think of that?† In spite of her immoral behaviour Sheba oddly wants others to know. At the end Steven Connolly was her target of obsession and Sheba did achieve her aim. She had an affair with a young boy and she was his first lady. â€Å"You’re my first old lady if that’s what you mean†. Sheba was infatuated by Connolly’s sex appeal and flattered by his attention. We are told by Heller that Barbara is the winner of this novel, but by closely contemplation; what did Barbara get at the end? The burned out wreck of Sheba! Barbara has to look after Sheba, like she is a child: â€Å"‘Oh?’ she said. Her tone was dreamily neutral† also â€Å"Then I sat her down and I made us some lunch†. So in my opinion Sheba is the winner of this novel, because of her affair with Connolly and after that she got, Barbara as a replacement for Richard: someone to look after her burned-out body without spirit or life. Sheba has fooled everyone, but she didn’t expect to end up with broken heart and weaker mind. In appealing to the public for understanding of this non-orthodox relationship, Barbara and Sheba are really appealing to a society who would find a close relationship between them laughable.

Literary Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron, By Kurt Vonnegut

â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† is a dystopian short story written by Kurt Vonnegut.Jr. in 1961. In the story, Vonnegut writes about a society where the government makes sure that everyone is mentally, physically, and socially equal. In other words, Everyone has equal wealth, equal intelligence, and equal level of attractiveness. Nobody can be smarter, better-looking, stronger, or richer than anybody else. On the surface, this might seem like a perfect place to live - until you start to wonder how the government would actually accomplish this monumental task. The story took place in America in 2081, during a time when the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments had been added to the constitution in order to make sure that everyone is equal in each way.†¦show more content†¦In the quote, the uglier the mask, the more beautiful the person is. If the true purpose of the mask is to make people equal and not feel bad, then the mask would have to prevent people from knowing how beautif ul a person is. A main symbol in the story is Harrison Bergeron, son of Hazel and George. He is a fourteen years old boy with highly intelligent. According to the description of Harrison, he is also strong and good looking. Due to his perfectness, he is handicapped to make him â€Å"equal† to other members of the society. The description of Harrison is very symbolic. The narrator states, â€Å"... instead of a little ear radio for a mental handicap, he wore a tremendous pair of earphone†¦ the spectacles were intended to make him not only half blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides†¦ and to offset his good looks, the [government] required that he wear at all times a red rubber ball for a nose, keep his eyebrows shaved off, and cover his even white teeth with black caps at snaggle-tooth random† (Vonnegut 4). The fact that Harrison is handicapped is symbolic because it proves that true equality is impossible to achieve. Having gifted people handicappe d does not make everyone equal. Instead, people with average abilities have the advantage since they do not need to be handicapped. The gifted people are punished. The better a person is, the more punishment the person need to have. Harrison being handicapped shows that the society isShow MoreRelatedHumes Ideas Present In Kurt Vonneguts Harrison Bergeron444 Words   |  2 PagesUpon analysis of Kurt Vonneguts, Harrison Bergeron, evidence suggests that the story imitates the basic structure of the monomyth. However, unlike the sequence and obvious events presented in a monomyth Vonnegut cleverly applies his own unique play on the iconic structure. What is to be noted first is the definition of amonomyth. Joseph Campbell defines the term, monomyth, as the standard cycle of events that occur to which the hero endures during the progression of the story (kfjakhfakjf).Read MoreKurt Vonnegut : A Hybrid Of Science Fiction And Satire1716 Words   |  7 PagesLeanne Arata English 11 Mrs. Wheeler 5/8/2016 Kurt Vonnegut The idea of making a work that does not fit into a single category of work is how Kurt Vonnegut has become such a phenomenon. Kurt Vonnegut has a hybrid writing style which allows him to critique human nature and this is evident in his work. A hybrid writer is someone who makes something by combining two different genres to create something new. Vonnegut’s work is a hybrid of science fiction and satire. Satire is an author’s way of sayingRead MoreEquality And Diversity In Kurt Vonneguts Harrison Bergeron1263 Words   |  6 Pagesentirely on equality? Kurt Vonnegut’s â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† answers that question with a solid no, we should not. Through his comical and sarcastic tone, many forms of irony, and absurd hyperboles, Vonnegut supports his work as a satire that both critically analyses and mocks the idea of total equality; Overall, emphasising the idea that society should strive for equality of justice, liberty, and rights, but not of things like the attributes that make us individuals. In â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† sarcasm is expressedRead MoreTheme Analysis : Harrison Bergeron907 Words   |  4 PagesPeggy S. Little Professor LaGuerre ENC1102 18 September, 2016 Theme Analysis: Harrison Bergeron In the literary piece â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† by Kurt Vonnegut, we enter a futuristic dystopian society in which all citizens have been forced into equality by a government that rules with corrupt omnipotence. From the very beginning of his hauntingly prophetic tale, Vonnegut lures us in by revealing what our society has devolved into at the hands of the wrong system in power. In the name of equality, theRead MoreLiterary Analysis : The Pit And The Pendulum 1100 Words   |  5 PagesIndia Sherman Tanig English II Pre-Ap 7 November 2014 Literary Analysis Essay What is evil? Reading â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† by: Edgar Allan Poe, â€Å"Marriage Is a Private Affair† by: Chinua Achebe, and â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† by: Kurt Vonnegut Jr. shall give a better understanding of defining evil. Evil means to be profoundly immoral and malevolent in all these stories this is something all the antagonist share. They all have their own version of evil, either traditional and strict evil , or insidious