Which excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron" best illustrates irony?
A. Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think about anything except in short bursts.
B. There were tears on Hazel's cheeks, but she'd forgotten for the moment what they were about.
C. And she had to apologize at once for her voice, which was a very unfair voice for a woman to use. Her voice was a warm, luminous, timeless melody.
D. A buzzer sounded in George's head. His thoughts fled in panic, like bandits from a burglar alarm.
Answer (1)
The excerpt that best illustrates irony in "Harrison Bergeron" is where Hazel apologizes for having a beautiful voice, which highlights the absurd nature of enforced equality. This irony emphasizes the contradiction in a society that punishes uniqueness. Such instances in the story underscore the ridiculousness of extreme measures taken for the sake of equality. ;
