Comparing Harrison Bergeron and The 5th Wave

How can people overcome vast obstacles for the greater good even when faced with imposing danger? One may say that some tasks are too difficult and cannot possibly be completed, but if it is for the right reason, circumstances that may seem impossible can become possible. In “Harrison Bergeron” by  Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and “The 5th Wave” by Rick Yancey, elements of characterization are injected to create a common theme of in times of danger it is crucial to do what is right.

In the dystopian story “Harrison Bergeron” by  Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Harrison Bergeron is shown to be courageous, strong-willed, and determined in order to develop a theme of in times of danger it is crucial to do what is right. In the short story, Harrison says " ’Even as I stand here’ he bellowed, ‘crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!’" (Vonnegut 4). This sentence represents the great courage possessed by Harrison even after he was tortured and put through terrible conditions by the government. Also, this describes how he is not afraid of the consequences and is prepared to do what is necessary. In the short story Harrison can also be described as strong-willed when he states “‘I am the Emperor!’ cried Harrison. ‘Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!’ He stamped his foot and the studio shook” (Vonnegut 4). This represents the kind of person that Harrison is and how even though he does not sound like the most amazing guy he is doing what no one else had the courage to do. He will do things that are not recommended because he does not show fear and continues to rise up against evil in an attempt to do the greater good. Lastly, Harrison is also determined and demonstrates this when he “remained suspended in air inches below the ceiling, and they kissed each other for a long, long time. It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor” (Vonnegut 5). This act of defiance demonstrates how Harrison is determined to do what is right, even when faced with great danger. Even when Harrison knew the possible outcomes, he was determined to defy the unfair laws in an attempt to create things more improved.

In the dystopian book “The 5th Wave” by Rick Yancey, Cassie Sullivan is shown to be resilient, brave, and diligent in order to develop a theme of in times of danger it is crucial to do what is right. In the book, Cassie states “Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield” (101). Cassie makes this bold statement while struggling to pull through and save herself from being killed by a Silencer. This act of resilience represents how no matter how tough the situation is Cassie will stop at nothing to get what is needed to be done. In the book, Cassie can also be described as brave when she exclaims “I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one not running, not staying, but facing” (101). She says this while in a close encounter with one of the Others and is on the verge of death. This demonstrates the bravery possessed by Cassie and how she will face tough situations head-on and show no fear. Lastly, Cassie is also diligent and displays this when she declares “The 1st Wave knocked us back to the eighteenth century. The next two slammed us into the Neolithic. We were hunter-gatherers again. Nomads. Bottom of the pyramid. But we weren't ready to give up hope. Not yet” (47). This statement was given after Cassie had seen many horrific sights and a lot of despair. However, Cassie continues to demonstrate how she will be diligent and endure to the end no matter how hopeless the situation may seem to be.

Elements of characterization are injected both “Harrison Bergeron” by  Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and “The 5th Wave” by Rick Yancey, to create a common theme of in times of danger it is crucial to do what is right. However, doing what is right may not always be the easiest task. So the question is, how far will one go in order to achieve what they believe is correct?