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Before: Vonnegut shows us through the symbolism of handicaps individuality is one of the most treasured qualities an "equal" person can posses. Being an individual means taking off the handicaps our community oppresses upon us. And embracing everything that we are. People desperately try to fit in and be equal. The truth is we will never be exactly alike with appearance or titles, but as equal people we are to treat one another with the same amount of respect and reverence.

After: Vonnegut shows us through the symbolism of handicaps individuality is one of the most treasured qualities an "equal" person posses. An individual takes off the handicaps our community oppresses upon us, and embraces every aspect which makes us who we are. The truth is, we will never be exactly alike with appearance or titles as our "perfect" coworker or "flawless" friend. However, we are all neighbors in this one world we share.  Vonnegut tells us everyone lives with flaws and blemishes, but equality comes when we detach ourselves from our pride and admire our own faults.

Ophelia - Sweet or Sour?

In reading Shakespeare's "Hamlet", act 1 scene 3; I had the pleasure in meeting Ophelia. In my mind, a reserved young lady, who thinks highly of her brother, Laertes, and his opinions. And since she is respectful to her brother and father I would think overall she is a well-rounded person with high morals for herself and others. In other words, I like her. I wouldn't mind sharing a conversation with Ophelia about if Hamlet is good enough or if Hamlet's love is real, she would be a really cool friend just saying. On another note, I thought that Shakespeare made her personality very subtle, she listened intently to whatever her brother and father had to say, and never cut in or made a snobby remark. She is so respectful and nice, she lets her brother and father tear Hamlet her supposed lover to shreds, and even more so she doesn't give any objection whatsoever. But, she appears indecisive about what her opinion of Hamlet is. It's good that she is cautious about if his love is true or not, but I think she lets her brother and father's opinion take over her own.

To get a full understanding of Ophelia, of course we have to take other people's opinions, such as movies! Lets call the movie interpretations: 1. D.P.P and 2. Zeffirelli. First number one D.P.P, I was annoyed by the actress who played Ophelia. The minute she said her first line, in such a "sure thing bro" type of tone, I wanted to pause the video and leave. This actress interpreted Ophelia as if she was chill her brother was leaving, and so relaxed over the fact her brother told her to take care of her heart from Hamlet. No, just no. I didn't like that actress at all. To me, I thought she had it all wrong from the "I don't really care what your saying" look I thought she had, and the immature teasing she tried so desperately to accomplish. In other words, I completely adored number two Zeffirelli's interpretation of Ophelia. The way the actress looked so innocent when you first saw her, I was like "Finally!" and "Bravo", now that is how I pictured Ophelia! The actress continued with sad looking expressions when her brother said good-bye, and a concerned tone in her voice when her brother was talking about Hamlet. To me, she was so much better! This actress gave me the timid but respectful Ophelia I had first imagined when Shakespeare first introduced me to her. And with that I thought that Zeffirelli's Ophelia set the right tone for the rest of the play, with her more genuine and trident true interpretation.

 

Hamlet is he the One?

My first impression of Hamlet was, he is a good son. He love his father so much, and when he hears news about his father's ghost he immediately wants to see him and talk to him. He is such a good son! He wants to see his dad, and make an effort to talk to him. Hamlet responds to his uncle and mother I feel like in a distant way. He respects his uncle and wants to look after his mother, but I feel like he can't love them as much as he would hope. "I shall in all my best obey you, madam." (Shakespeare 1-120) I see Hamlet distant from his mother since she remarried, as if he only wants to but on a show for her. To me Hamlet misses his father so much that he doesn't want to be involved with his uncle and mother, he wants his father. Selfish and childish in a way, but still Hamlet is another person trying to find their path in their mind on their own. On another note, I also think that Hamlet is an excellent prince and would make a fantastic king someday. From seeing his loyalty to his family and his people I believe that he would lead with justice. I can see him looking for the best solution to satisfy all parties. I imagine him as a king that is fair, and would do anything to make the right be his highest priority. Hamlet in my mind would give his people the best king they have ever seen.

Handicaps in Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron"

Handicaps in Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”

Kurt Vonnegut uses the symbolism of handicaps in his short story, "Harrison Bergeron," to convey the difficulty people have in expressing their individual self and standing up against "un-equality." The handicaps symbolize the fight and struggle for individual equality. The masks symbolize the need and desire for a glimpse of what  characteristics every individual hides. And, Harrison's red rubber ball nose symbolizes for equality we must humbly accept our own humiliation. Vonnegut's symbolism describes the hardship we endure as an individual in our communities, but we don’t need a second opinion if we accept ourselves inevitably.

Vonnegut’s use of the mask in “Harrison Bergeron” symbolizes the need and desire for a glimpse of what characteristics every individual hides . He takes the mask and as a handicap it is the balance of the woman’s beauty. While George was watching the ballerinas on the television, he commented the ballerina speaking  “(She) must have been extraordinary beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous.” In the story, the masks symbolize the influence community has on people’s reflection of themselves, how they should or should not appear to the public, and what is presentable and what is not. And, this symbolism shows how in “Harrison Bergeron” their was no equality for the individual. People wear masks all the time to hide what they truly are and appear as what they are not . We are at constant war, with our own selves and community, for our individualism.  We sometimes hate how different we look and how unique our personalities are and are willing to give up that individuality to fit the norm. However, when we take a step back and take off our masks, we are accepting everything that we are, the imperfections and the perfections. Harrison picks out his Queen, and “Last of all, he removed her mask. She was blindingly beautiful.” Harrison is showing her by taking off her mask she doesn’t need rules or regulations to tell her who she is. The ballerina is set free, and now can exceed beyond the boundaries of their community. This symbolizes taking away what we stand behind that misrepresents us and hides us, and seeing we are “blindingly beautiful ”. We are all not supermodels or presidents, and we blindly try to hard to mimic people that have more and look better to feel we are just at worthy as they are. Vonnegut describes the masks as hideous, because they are our falsities, desires, and guilty pleasures. When we let go of our masks, the people we are beneath are infinitely greater.

Vonnegut shows us through the symbolism of Harrison’s red rubber ball nose to take a step into equality we must have an understanding of humility. Vonnegut depicts Harrison piled with handicaps and wearing a red rubber ball on his nose to “offset his good looks” as a reminder that he is an outcast, and he is forever labeled a threat to the balance of the community.  Harrison is abandoned and betrayed by his friends, family, and community. The red nose also symbolizes the shame and self pity people crawl to for the comfort of embracing the inequality and rejoin the mob.  Vonnegut  tells us to have true equality, individuals have to be able to step out and accept their humiliation with humility. People have to love their “red rubber ball nose” and embrace that unique quality that ultimately makes them one of a kind. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, think we aren’t as good, but understand like Harrison Bergeron there are no limits for us, only we can set our life’s limitations.

Vonnegut shows us through the symbolism of handicaps that individuality is one of the most treasured qualities an “equal” person can possess. Being an individual means taking off the handicaps our community oppresses upon us and embracing everything that we are. People desperately try to fit in and be equal , we try so hard to be safe and follow everyone else so we don’t make a mistake and make a fool out of ourselves. We have pride and expectations for ourselves to blend in and not seen as insanely intolerable. The truth is we will never be exactly alike with appearance or titles, but, as equal people, we are to treat one another with the same amount of respect and reverence.