Nola Werlinich

10/16/08
Anthem vs. Harrison Bergeron
Character Details: (Compare)
~Harrison Bergeron: HB is tall, smart, 14 years old, an outcast,
handsome, male; he has a real name; women supported and rebelled
with him; main character in his story; punished by so
~Anthem: Equality is tall, smart, 21 years old, an outcast, male;
women rebelled with and supported him; has an idea name; main
character in his story
~How they are similar: both main characters are physically similar
(both male and tall), mentally similar (both intelligent), and socially
similar (both are outcasts, women supported and rebelled with them,
and punished by society).
Plot Details: (Contrast)
~Harrison Bergeron: handicaps kept people equal; technology existed;
main character dies after rebelling; all people are equal; the
government has too much power
~Anthem: laws kept people equal; no technology; main character
thrives after rebelling; some people rebelled; all people are equal;
the government has too much power
~How they are different: to keep people equal in Harrison Bergeron,
people got handicaps put on them (foggy glasses, lead balls, ear
pieces, etc). In Anthem, laws were made and people were shunned;
there was technology in Harrison Bergeron but not in Anthem; in
Harrison Bergeron the main character dies after rebelling but in
Anthem the main character thrives
Theme Details: (Compare)

~Harrison Bergeron: enforcing sameness on society is bad; being your

true self is difficult but worth it in the end; forced sameness leads to
mediocrity; over-restriction leads to rebellion
~Anthem: equality is vital to life; be proud to show off talents and
strengths; expressing individuality leads to happiness; stereotypes are
often misleading; sometimes questioning rules/authority is good
~How they are similar: the themes in both books have to do with either
being equal or that its okay to be different or rebellious