Jackson 1

Jonice Jackson

Mrs. Field

LNG 322

15 February 2011

No True Perfection

Who defines perfection, the individual, or the collective? Perfect is something

most strive to be, but what happens there is only one definition of perfection?

When a person willingly allows another to define him, he submits himself to

oppression; however when he goes against his society, he will be able to find a truth

that society tries to hide. The society’s in Rand’s novel, Anthem, Niccol’s movie,

Gattaca, and Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” all try to be what they

think is perfect. This causes conflict for the main characters Equality, Vincent, and

Harrison because the vision they have of perfection is different then there society’s.

In order for a society to reach “perfection” certain things about the individual

has to be taken away. For Harrison and Equality everyone is suppose to be as “…

good as anybody else…” However Harrison and Equality aren’t like the others in

their society’, they are smarter. So, society holds them back from reaching their full

potential. In worlds like these “no one exceeds his potential,” but for Vincent and

Equality boundaries are set for them, by society, so they won’t go on and become a

great inventor or fulfill his lifelong dream. How can a society claim to be perfect but

it deprives the people within it from being happy? Those few people who realize

that he is deprived has no choice but rebel against society and do what he thinks is

right.