Question

take notes on what happens and what it means.

1. opening line: “in the year 2081...\

• what does equality look like here?
• explicit meaning:
• implicit meaning:

1. george & hazel watching tv

• how do their handicaps affect them?
• what does this show about individuality?

1. harrison declares himself emperor

• why does he rebel?
• is vonnegut treating him as a hero, or exaggerating?

1. the ballerina dance & ending

• what does their dance symbolize?
• why does the government kill harrison so quickly?

Explanation:

1. Opening line: The explicit meaning could be a simple statement of the year in a fictional - future setting. The implicit meaning might be setting up a dystopian or utopian world where equality is re - defined. Equality here could mean forced sameness as everyone is handicapped to achieve a false sense of equality.
2. George & Hazel watching TV: Their handicaps limit their thoughts and abilities, showing how individuality is suppressed in this society as everyone is made to be 'equal' through artificial means.
3. Harrison declares himself Emperor: He rebels against the oppressive system that suppresses his and others' natural talents. Vonnegut may be treating him as a symbol of the human spirit's desire for freedom, not necessarily as a traditional hero but as a figure challenging the status - quo.
4. The ballerina dance & ending: The dance may symbolize the beauty and freedom that is suppressed in this society. The government kills Harrison quickly to maintain control and the false sense of equality.

Answer:

1. Explicit meaning: Statement of year in fictional setting. Implicit meaning: Setup for a world with re - defined equality. Equality: Forced sameness through handicaps.
2. Handicaps limit thoughts/abilities; shows suppression of individuality.
3. Rebels against oppressive system; may be a symbol of the human spirit's desire for freedom.
4. Dance symbolizes suppressed beauty/freedom; government kills Harrison to maintain control and false equality.