Kurt Vonneguts story of “Harrison Bergeron” shows what an ideal society would be like if there was no individualism. It is a story that takes place in the year 2081 where the people of society are forced to be equal through law, however it is the different characteristics of the people in society that give it depth and interest. If everything and everybody were forced to act and look the same, than the people in that society would have no need to improve or develop. This story represents an idea of what a perfect society may be like. There is no conflict, war, or poverty within it. Everybody is adapted to be the same and nobody is better or worse that anybody else. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else (1332).
It was the job of the agents of the United States Handicapper General, and there leader Diana Moon Glampers, to enforce the laws of equality onto this society. The physically beautiful people had to wear ugly masks to cover their pretty faces and people stronger than others were forced to wear metal handicappers, so as to be equal. Additionally, the smarter members of society had to wear a little radio in one ear that was tuned to a government transmitter, which sent out various disturbing sounds, to keep them from thinking and taking advantage of their brains. One such character is Harrison Bergeron.
Harrison is a 14 year-old boy who, because of his size, looks and intellect, is arrested by the government. He was a 7-foot tall boy who appearance was Halloween and hardware (1334), and was looked upon as a great danger to the government, which is why nobody else had more handicaps on than he. He is taken away from his parents by the government for suspicion of plotting to over-throw the government (1334) and placed into a prison, where he soon breaks out.
127 our experts are availableright now
Upon his arrest he proceeds to immediately escape and find relief at a local television station where he decides that its up to him to free society from the shackles that are placed upon everybody. I am your Emperor, (1335) he cries in order to show the viewers at home that he can longer be trapped and held down by the government s ties. He then begins to illegally remove the handicaps that were placed upon him in a way to show power, and that he has no fear of what could happen to him by the Handicappers general. …watch me become what I can become (1335)
Upon removing all his handicaps he convinces a woman to do the same. Additionally, he then tries to convince others in the studio to follow him, and they do as well. Harrison s believed that if he could be seen on television without his handicaps that he could start a coup against the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers. However, his plan did not turn out the way he intended. As they were enjoying their newly found freedom, they were shot and killed by her, not by an agent, but by her. That was her way to show the society watching of what will happen to them if they don t follow her in equality. Glampers is at a position at the top of the society and she wanted to keep it, which is why she used a 10 gauge shot gun on television to kill Harrison and the girl he danced with. They represented a great danger to her and societies way of life.
In conclusion, Harrison Bergeron shows an absurd society that must function with equality. Vonnegut shows that the concept of total equality is impossible and would not be able to last in a society. People must be able to express themselves as individuals with different beliefs and feeling. The society in “Harrison Bergeron” followed what they were told to do and wear, no matter how painful. They had many opportunities for freedom and it was only time that someone took advantage of those opportunities, although his result was fatal.
