Respond in a well-organized essay. Answer is written in complete sentences. In her essay "Writing Short Stories" Flannery O'Connor says this about characterization: "You can't cut characters off from their society and say much about them as individuals." "You can't say anything meaningful about the mystery of personality unless you put that personality in a believable and significant social context." Consider the quotations above. Then pick a story you read in Semester A, and evaluate how the social context and the characters work together not only to provide a vivid setting, but also to help explain and develop the characters' thoughts, words, and actions.
In Flannery O'Connor's essay "Writing Short Stories," she argues that characters cannot be fully understood unless they are placed within a social context. O'Connor believes that the way characters interact with their society helps to explain and develop their thoughts, words, and actions. This can be seen in the story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, where the social context plays a crucial role in shaping the characters and their motivations.
"Harrison Bergeron" is set in a dystopian society where the government enforces equality by handicapping individuals who have exceptional abilities or beauty. The social context in this story is crucial in understanding the characters and the choices they make. For example, the protagonist, Harrison Bergeron, is a highly intelligent and athletic teenager who is forced to wear heavy physical handicaps to suppress his abilities. The society's obsession with equality is what drives Harrison to rebel against the system and try to overthrow it.
The social context in "Harrison Bergeron" provides a vivid setting by highlighting the extreme measures taken by the government to enforce equality. The story describes how individuals are weighed down by physical handicaps such as weights, masks, and earpieces that disrupt their thoughts. This grim and oppressive setting emphasizes the absurdity of the society and creates a sense of tension and urgency.
Furthermore, the social context helps to explain and develop the characters' thoughts, words, and actions. Alongside Harrison, the other characters in the story are also affected by the social system. George, Harrison's father, is burdened by a mental handicap radio that emits intermittent sharp noises to disrupt his thoughts. This handicap prevents him from fully expressing himself and leads to his passive acceptance of the government's rules. The social context explains George's reluctance to rebel and his fear of the consequences.
Likewise, the social context influences the actions of the other characters. For instance, Harrison's mother, Hazel, does not have any significant handicaps, but she is unable to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation due to her average intelligence. Her inability to fully understand the consequences of her son's rebellion is a direct result of the society's suppression of individuality. Thus, the social context explains her passive reaction and lack of action.
The relationship between the social context and characters is reciprocal in "Harrison Bergeron." The characters' actions and motivations are a product of the society they inhabit, while at the same time, the characters' choices and rebellions challenge the societal norms and advocate for individuality. The story demonstrates how the characters' thoughts, words, and actions are shaped by the social context, but also how the characters, particularly Harrison, can work against the oppressive system.
In conclusion, Flannery O'Connor's assertion that the social context is essential in understanding characters is exemplified in "Harrison Bergeron." The extreme measures taken by the government to enforce equality provide a vivid setting and create tension. The social context also explains and develops the characters' thoughts, words, and actions, illustrating how the characters are influenced by their society. Overall, the interaction between the social context and characters in "Harrison Bergeron" not only provides a vivid setting but also helps to explain and develop the characters.