My response to the ending of the story was not a positive one. I did not like the way the events of Harrison Bergeron were resolved at all. After I finished reading the story, I realized that the United States government controls people in this universe in a way that makes it virtually impossible for people to rebel. They make it so that no one is coherent enough to even plan a rebellion, and even if someone was able to overcome their handicaps, the live executions of these rebels makes everyone afraid to follow in their footsteps.
Harrison’s father George had difficulty thinking about things because of his handicaps. George was naturally very smart, but, in order to make everyone equal, George was required to wear an earpiece that sent loud, …show more content…
In this time period, Hazel’s “perfectly average intelligence” isn’t the same as average intelligence of today’s world. Hazel’s average intelligence means she can’t focus on things for more than a few seconds, even without a handicap.
Hazel and George’s comments about their son show that, even though they can’t think about him for very long, they still care for him. Hazel was shown crying after Harrison was shot. and George described Harrison being taken away by the Handicapper General as “a tragic event.”
The society the characters in Harrison Bergeron live in serves more to keep people in line than to govern them. Instead of caring for people like a government should, they are more concerned with keeping everyone handicapped and ‘equal’ to everyone else. The society is also hypocritical, as the government believes in keeping everyone equal, but doesn’t handicap government officials, only citizens. This last conclusion also tells me that the government is afraid of someone trying to overthrow them, as they keep high-ranking officials unhandicapped to ensure any potential threats are overthrown before they can cause …show more content…
By the year 2081, just 70 years in the future, nearly 200 more amendments to the Constitution have been passed to maintain people’s rights and equalities. Comparing this to the 27 that have been made in the last 200 years of American history shows that the government has gotten too involved in the lives of Americans and ensuring they are all equal.
If Diana Moon Glampers had missed Harrison, allowing him and the Empress, I think that Harrison would have charged the Handicapper General and tried to subdue her while she reloaded her shotgun. Once she had been taken care of, Harrison possibly would have encouraged everyone watching the broadcast to remove their handicaps and joined him in his
Harrison’s father George had difficulty thinking about things because of his handicaps. George was naturally very smart, but, in order to make everyone equal, George was required to wear an earpiece that sent loud, …show more content…
In this time period, Hazel’s “perfectly average intelligence” isn’t the same as average intelligence of today’s world. Hazel’s average intelligence means she can’t focus on things for more than a few seconds, even without a handicap.
Hazel and George’s comments about their son show that, even though they can’t think about him for very long, they still care for him. Hazel was shown crying after Harrison was shot. and George described Harrison being taken away by the Handicapper General as “a tragic event.”
The society the characters in Harrison Bergeron live in serves more to keep people in line than to govern them. Instead of caring for people like a government should, they are more concerned with keeping everyone handicapped and ‘equal’ to everyone else. The society is also hypocritical, as the government believes in keeping everyone equal, but doesn’t handicap government officials, only citizens. This last conclusion also tells me that the government is afraid of someone trying to overthrow them, as they keep high-ranking officials unhandicapped to ensure any potential threats are overthrown before they can cause …show more content…
By the year 2081, just 70 years in the future, nearly 200 more amendments to the Constitution have been passed to maintain people’s rights and equalities. Comparing this to the 27 that have been made in the last 200 years of American history shows that the government has gotten too involved in the lives of Americans and ensuring they are all equal.
If Diana Moon Glampers had missed Harrison, allowing him and the Empress, I think that Harrison would have charged the Handicapper General and tried to subdue her while she reloaded her shotgun. Once she had been taken care of, Harrison possibly would have encouraged everyone watching the broadcast to remove their handicaps and joined him in his