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Jonathan Edwards

Mrs. Field

LNG322

15 February 2011

Differences

How can people achieve in life or exceed expectations if everyone

must be equal or segregated for not having the best genetics? Equality,

Vincent, and Harrison define independence and will as being able to do as

they want. Why should people be placed into a society where everyone must

be equal, and let even the dumbest people tell them what is wrong? In order

to get what you want or reach your goals, you must be willing to do whatever

it takes. Andrew Niccol, the writer of Gattaca, has his character Vincent living

in a time where you are only known for the DNA you have. No matter what

he, does everyone sees him as an invalid person, who does not have the

DNA to live up to high expectations. Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem,

creates a society where everyone is equal in knowledge. The society hides

the past before the Great Rebirth so that no one knows how they are made

and who their parents are, or how society was created. Equality wants to

learn, so he escapes to search for the real truth. Lastly, “Harrison Bergeron,”

by Kurt Vonnegut is about a society created so that everyone is equal in

knowledge, strength, and skill. To apply these equalities everyone is given

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bondage such as bird pellets to add weight so no one is slower or heavier

than anyone else. Also, everyone is given masks so that everyone looks

equal and no one looks better or has unique features.

Andrew Niccol defines perfection as being the best at what you do to

exceed in your life. In the film Gattaca,the society determines a person’s life

span, potential, and life’s work at birth using DNA as a measuring stick.

Because Vincent’s DNA is below average, society does not expect much from

him compared to his genetically superior brother. Vincent is born with a 10%

chance that he will die when he is 34 and he has a heart problem, so doctors

suggested he would have many problems, but his brother has the perfect

everything. He could be anything he wanted to be. He is going to beat his

perfect brother and not listen to what anyone else has to say. It’s that

moment that makes everything possible. He does his best for what he wants

to become and that day he was going to take the chance and show that he

could beat his perfect and genetically superior brother. No one can exceed

his or her potential, this is their society’s rule. What is true is no one can get

anywhere without working hard and doing the impossible. Vincent never

gives up even though all odds are against him. He still works and finds a way

to go into space. He lies about his identity and even faked his DNA, and in

the end proves that even with all percentages against him everything is still

possible. When everything is said and done, you know that will is stronger

than scientific knowledge.

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Ayn Rand defends perfection as everyone having the same knowledge

and abilities. All men must be alike, no one can be different. No one can be

alone and no one can think alone, they always have to be with someone.” No

single one can possess greater wisdom than the many scholars who are

elected by all mean for their wisdom” (54). No one must or dare to be

greater than the scholars. In this society everyone is as strong as their

weakest link. Some may learn, but if they learn then all must learn. Equality

feels that he is evil for thinking against society’s rules. So he decides to

escape his society’s bondage and learn more about life and his creation

before the Rebirth that started this new society.

These three stories even with differences are very similar. All of there

societies; Equality’s, Vincent’s, and Harrison’s have restraints that hold them

from desires, freedom and self accomplishment. Your life is seen from the

very moment you are born. No one wants to stand apart, only to slowly move

along with life and obey any order they are given. This could happen to these

people, even us, because everything that makes them themselves is taken

at birth. Equality starts a whole new world apart from the one he had to live

where he had to follow all orders and not think or act for himself. When

Equality is told his future job to do for the rest of his life, he refuses to do this

job for the rest of his life, so he decides live his own life and discover the

wonders of life on his own. Most men would never go against the laws of

humanity, but Equality’s curiosity takes control. Vincent is never allowed to

become a part of the perfect and ideal society. He is seen as an In- Valid and
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never to be given the job of a genetically superior being above him, thus

society would not let him become an astronaut because they didn’t want to

waste time on an invalid. Vincent found Jerome a trusted new friend and

borrowed his superior DNA to allow him access to achieve his goal. Harrison

is a man, unlike Vincent, exceeded by all standards in every category for

man. He is perfect, and yet his perfection burdens him. His world is only

focused on equal man and women. No one can be better than any others in

their world. However, Harrison removed his weights, thought restrictors, and

all other objects that seem to hide his amazing traits and looks from others.

When he removes these handicaps, he expresses pure happiness and joy on

a live broadcast around the world. This gave people around the world a new

look at life; they could now see they could be free from this bondage that

holds them back.

Kurt Vonnegut, Ayn Rand, and Andrew Niccol define that if society

keeps pushing us to do everything the same there will be no progress for

human life. No one will have any opinions to create new inventions and this

will keep the world stalled, and keep everything the same forever. These

three authors show how society can change and segregate some people.

Basically take away the things that make them individuals. They are each

man no men, but society is trying to push them to be that way.