TRIANGULATION ESSAY

Dystopian forms of media such as "Harrison Bergernon," Anthem, and Antz all show us how dangerous the world can be when we let others control our future, thoughts, and actions. But in each media, we are inspired by the protagonist's rejection of their oppressive governments and social norm. Each media manages to present us with a similar message, but in a unique way.

In each media, we can see there's a higher power that makes all the decisions. But the decisions they make don't benefit the citizens but the government itself. Everything is selfishly controlled by them without even the consideration of how it could detrimentally affect the people. They rule violently in order to ensure that their people will never think that they have a choice or should think independently. In "Harrison Bergernon," it's the Handicap Generals. In Anthem, there is the council. And in Antz, there is General Mandible. In "Harrison Bergernon," the government stifles people's talents in order to keep them all equal. Whereas the main mission of "Harrison Bergernon's" government is to make everyone equal, in Antz and Anthem the mission is to brainwash their people into believing that their very existence is for the "Brotherhood" or the "Colony".  Anthem and Antz both promote their mission through fear and propaganda, but in "Harrison Bergernon" they achieve their mission through handicaps and ignorance. "Harrison Bergernon" and Anthem's governments are unique in the way they incorporate fear. Fear of the past (Unmentionable Times) (Dark Ages). They make it sound like everything in the past was bad and wrong. They used fear of violence, as well as fines. Although all three governments used different methods to achieve their mission, their results were the same... complete control and no individualism.

We are now familiar with how the three governments work, but how do the people in the society react to it? They basically allow their governments to control them in every aspect of their lives. The ironic thing is that they all think they are happy and content, because that's what they are told and far be it for anyone to ever question what their government tells them. And even if there is the off chance that someone questions what they are told, the thoughts are soon expelled, due to guilt and fear, derived from brainwashing. The people in "Harrison Bergernon" aren't even able to think due to all their handicaps. The people in Anthem listen because they believe that they are nothing and the only way to find meaning is in working for the Brotherhood. In Antz, the ants are so focused on the good of the colony they don't have the time nor energy to consider the possibility of a new and better society. None of the three societies believe that there could ever be another way of life until 1 person in each community revolted against the oppression. Equality 7- 2521's  private thinking started to show on the outside and ended up catching the eye of Liberty 5-3000. Equality made Liberty doubt what the Brotherhood told her. Z's rebellion made the whole colony second guess their leaders. When Harrison cursed society and claimed that he was king, the people, even if it was for just a second, found hope. All three protagonists made their societies believe that freedom could after all be possible.

The government is oppressive towards their people, and the people accept it, but they occasionally have doubts about whether or not how they are living is really the best way. There is obviously a need for change in all three medias, but how? The key is someone who doesn't fit in because they are above everyone else. They are not content for others tell them they are. Just like everyone else, they have doubts, but it's not enough to dismiss it like everyone else. Harrison, Equality, and Z are the protagonists that have the potential of making a utopia possible. Harrison and Equality are big and strong, but even though Z is smaller, he and Equality are smart and knowledgeable. Harrison was also smart, but he didn't use his intelligence to revolt like Z and Equality. He used violence to get what he wanted, but the consequence to his brutality was death, unlike Z and Equality who lived. Z was able to start a new colony, while Equality escaped his society. All the protagonists refused to accept what they were told and therefore posed a threat to their governments. They were a threat because they reassured the people’s doubts, and consequently they became the spark for more doubts and a possible, much needed, revolution.

Ants, Anthem, and " Harrison Bergernon"  show us how grateful we should be that we don’t live in a world that the protagonists in all these medias had to experience. A place where everyone is controlled in every way and they accept it. Harrison, Equality, and Z inspire and show us that it only takes one person to speak out in order for things to truly change for the better.