The Theme of Soft Society in Literature Essay Example

Control is indefinite. It can be meant as control over your body, or control over 7.7 billion other bodies. While fantasy is the opposite of reality, hypotheses but more importantly connections can be made between the two. The stories “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, “Like the Sun” by R.K. Narayan and “Test” by Theodore Thomas all have something in common: their societies are weak. A soft society leads to lack of development and character. 

“Test” by Theodore Thomas shows that a soft society leads to lack of development and character through the external conflict presented throughout the story. The main character, Robert Proctor is put through a driving test by hypnosis. When he wakes up he is sent to a mental institution per the government’s orders. “Killing people doesn’t bother you. We don’t let your kind run around loose in society anymore,” (Proctor 1). The man in charge of the driving test implies that he likes to commit murder, which the reader knows from his inner thoughts is false. The man making an assumption means that he and his organization do not like to base off of facts, which is a dangerous habit to practice. Furthermore, this means that the government could be whisking away thousands of innocent people unnecessarily. “(...) his rubber heels sliding along the two grooves worn into the floor,” (Proctor 1). While they may seem like numbers, cutting off people’s lives to make them live in a loop is unacceptable. Assumptions made by others can be dangerous when the matter comes to dealing with society. However, the truth is an even more powerful double-edged sword.

The story “Like the Sun” by R.K Narayan is another example of why a soft society leads to lack of character and development because of the internal conflict introduced by the main character. Sekhar is a teacher who is boldly honest. His actions, on the other hand, have consequences that others would deeply long to avoid at all costs. This includes Sekhar saying that his boss should quit trying at music because he does not have any skill. “‘Oh, I've reconsidered it. I must positively have them

here tomorrow. . . .’ A hundred papers in a day!”(Narayan 3)  There is a saying ‘respect your elders’ which is most times enforced with the idea that everything must be done as they say. What is left out of the question is morals, which one can see in this situation, are missing. One hundred quiz papers graded in one night seems impossible, but the bigger idea is that the teacher asked for his opinion and received it. The headmaster got offended by this and demanded that the papers be turned in by the next day. This abuse of power is a demonstration of the inability to accept truth. On the other hand, the consequences of one person compared to the force of a whole country is a colossal distinction.

“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut demonstrates how a soft society leads to a lack of development and character by the example of the main character’s actions shown continuously throughout the story. The story is set in the year 2081 where everyone is deemed as “equal” because handicaps are placed on them according to their governments’ assessment. A man called Harrison Bergeron is trying to oppose the government and breaks into a studio. “He flung away his rubber-ball nose, [which] revealed a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder” (Vonnegut 5). The weight that he removes from himself is almost inhuman, and his motivation to make his country free makes this even more overwhelming. Bergeron is deemed a threat because the government sees him as a threat and his strength and drive are a significant match for them. The reader can see the importance of too much equality. People who can’t think for themselves and have to apologize for having traits that others don't is nowhere close to what equality should be. The idea of government control over a body of people is and should be undesired, and one can see the examples from even today’s world.

Desire and control are interlinked. One leads to the other, yet both can result in the same goal of menacing chaos. When the desire for control is minimized, a society can exceed in the best ways because it allows for innovation and for personality, both of which can also be interlinked. “Test” shows this through external conflict, “Like the Sun” shows this through its internal conflict, and “Harrison Bergeron” shows this through his actions. There is a decision that the world must decide, however. They can either learn from the mistakes shown throughout history, or they can continue to clash to their end in a desperate attempt to achieve control.