The Theme of Equality in 'Harrison Bergeron' and 'The Love Song'

In the scope of this paper, the theme of equality, as it is represented in the two works of literature, namely “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Love Song” would be assessed and evaluated. In the “Harrison Bergeron,” the theme of equality is represented by the author in a unique way – instead of claiming that all people are to be equal, the futurist picture of the world is depicted by Kurt Vonnegut- when the governmental structures of The United States force all people for being equal, while applying into the practice the toolkits of the cruel handicaps. An additional emphasis, in the scope of the story, is put on the fact that there is a set of the dangerous issues, associated with artificial equality instead of the celebrating differences. 

As it is claimed by Chapman (2007), the core purpose of the story is to represent the following lesson: all people are the same; thus, there is not equality among them, as they all have sting and weak points making them unique. It is possible to make a statement that the equality, in the context of the social life, is represented in the wide set of the possible dimensions- such as beauty, power, intelligence, etc. Such traits and abilities of the human nature pretend to the Handicapper General, stripping the characters of their astonishing mental and physical features in such manner that others do not feel substandard. Such obstacles are of superficial nature, but still, they have no potential for changing the inherent traits of an individual. 

The author has used the autocratic government of Harrison Bergeron for investigation of such issue as human freedom, which in turn, is directly interrelated with the equality of an individual in one’s society. Still, Vonnegut insists that there is a considerable difference between the notions equality of an individual in one´s society. Still, Vonnegut insists that there is a considerable difference between the notions equality and freedom as even while the characters of the story are ´equal´ in a superficial way, no one of them is actually free because of the cruel regulations of the Handicapper General. It is essential to note that the theme of forced equality is the major one as it is seen or the future. The author has created the world, where all people, representing the US society are equal in all possible dimensions. Still, the major emphasis is put on the achievement of the equality among people via the means of modifying power, beauty and intelligence in contrast to managing the issues, related to religion, race, and sex (which in turn are the major contemporary issues, associated with discrimination and inequality in the contemporary society). Therefore, it is possible to make a claim that one of the core thesis statements of the story pertains to the fact that all people are not equal as for now, but still, everyone has both individual advantages and disadvantages, which make them unique. 

As it may be traced from the story, Vonnegut represents the equality of the U.S. people in such areas as power, beauty and intelligence, as the one of the major traits of the world, created by the author, is the fact that beautiful people carry some weighs and in such manner, the equality is achieved throughout the society. For the intelligent representatives of the society, there are the specially- elaborated headsets, blasting the accidental noises. These headsets are to be worn on an obligatory basis for restricting the intellectual thoughts and considerations. Harrison is represented in the story as an attractive powerful, smart and strong person; therefore, he wears usually big headset, red rubber nose, enormous weights, big glasses, and a just to offset his features – for hiding his advantageous features from other members of the society (those, who neither possess the nice body, nor have the smart mind). It may be traced from the following sentence: “The rest of Harrison’s appearance was Halloween and hardware. Nobody had even borne heavier handicaps” (Vonnegut 7). It is obvious that such form of equality cannot be a durable one as it would be put by the weak representatives of the society (neither smart, nor attractive) under the question and as an outcome, it would fail within the limited timeframe. Therefore, the author has shown Harrison for depiction of the way, people would protest and work against handicap members of the social group until they reach the point of the complete system failure: “Harrison tore the straps off his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tote straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds” (Vonnegut, 6). The author’s conception may be proved in the following manner: while there are restrictions and limitations, which prevent people from being equal, there is no option of competition within the society; in the case when there is no healthy struggle, there is no possibility or improvement of the social life as all advantages and innovations are the product of competition. Even more, all progress-related actions, which need the deep considerations and critical thinking, would be stopped in the case of such a social order and as an outcome; the crash of economic system and societal life will take their places. Therefore, the form of equality, as it is represented by Vonnegut, is utopic one as it prevents humans from being creative, as well as the human race is demoralized in such a manner. 

While considering the theme of equality, as it is represented in “The Love Song” by T.S. Eliot, it is possible to make a claim that the theme of equality is not directly discussed by the author, but it may be traced from the underlying message of the poem. For instance, equality may be seen in the need for balancing the individual’s internal world (which is unfolded with the spiritual crisis) and the external one, overwhelmed by the day-to-day mundane issues, obligations, restrictions, and limitations, etc. Therefore, the harmony of the individual world, which may be achieved by equality of one’s inner and outer words, is the final purpose of human being and one destination in life. Additional emphasis should be put on the concern of equality- as it pertains to the crisis of morality faced by all individuals regardless of their race, gender, social, and marital status… It is possible to trace the mystery of the time and its corresponding threat throughout the poem, as there is a repetitive phrase of Prufrock “An indeed there will be time.” Finally it was realized by Prufrock that the time is an enemy as it has the power of drawing him closer to his final destiny. Thus, the theme of equality in the above-discussed context may be traced from the fact that all the people have the common enemy-time, which is passing and makes them closer to the final point on an everyday basis. Therefore, everyone is equal in this context regardless of one’s gender, social status, race, feelings of being either lonely, or in love, among others. 

To conclude it is possible to make a claim that both works of literature deal with the theme of equality. In “Harrison Bergeron” it is the central theme as the equality is represented by the author as the major contributing factor for the creation of the proper social order. Equality is attributed to such issues as intelligence, beauty, and power. In “The Love Song,” equity may be traced from the underlying message, sent by the author, who was insisted on the fact that all people are equal in relation to time, which passes and leaves nothing behind.