ENGL1102 Notes
2/1/2012
“2112” by Rush and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut
Presentation on Vonnegut’s Political Views
· Life
o Lived 1922-2007
o Called a Science Fiction writer – didn’t like it
o 14 published work
o WWII POW
o Mother’s Day when he was 21 his mother killed herself
o Honorary President of American Humanist Association
· Vonnegut’s Works
o Slaughterhouse-Five
o Cat’s Cradle
o Player Piano
o Slapstick
· Understanding Vonnegut
o Opinions on US govt
§ Target of most frequent and harsh criticisms
§ Corruption
§ Self-destructive
§ “We the People” no longer applies
§ Politicians are not better suited than the average individual
o Views on human nature/Outlook on life
§ Cynical
§ Incoherent reality
§ Societal denial
§ Yet optimistic
§ “So it goes.”
o Context of historical time period
§ Cold War
§ Soviet Union
§ Anti-Communist propaganda
§ McCarthyism
o Religious beliefs
§ Humanistic
§ Beatitudes
§ Sermon on the Mount
§ Cannot cure loneliness
§ No comfort in afterlife
o Literary Style
§ Straightforward and unadorned
§ Often satirical
§ Employs extreme exaggeration
§ Comical elements abound
§ Progressive
· Harrison Bergeron
o Diana Moon
o Effects of television
o Literal equality vs Constitutional equality
o Relationships
· Class Discussion on “Harrison Bergeron”
o Trying to say that America was headed towards this situation because of the Red Scare
o Things were regulated and anyone who stuck out or had odd ideas was outcast
§ Saying that what Americans think will happen is impossible
o Harrison could be seen as American, very arrogant
§ “Saves” the musicians but then says he is now their emperor
o Wrote with a veiled purpose because he doesn’t want to be too suggestive like the TV presenters were
§ Didn’t want to be too open because of the Red Scare
· “2112”
o The man finds a guitar and thinks it will help his people, but he is put down
o He sees the past society and how free they were
o Can be read to say that the priests won or that the lone man won
§ Who assumed control?
§ Ambiguous, like “Harrison Bergeron”
o Saying that people shouldn’t be conformist
§ Pro-Individuality
o More of a sincere critique of Communism
o Different voice for the different speakers
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