Character Analysis Harrison Bergeron

Throughout module 5, I found one character to be quite intriguing: Harrison Bergeron in “Harrison Bergeron”. Prior to reading, I presumed the story would be told completely all about a man named Harrison, but instead this story’s setting is a future dystopian society depicting total egalitarianism. At the heart of the story, Harrison is the protagonist that is only included in a quarter of the story. Nevertheless, Harrison is the most important character in the entire piece because he is so dynamic. Harrison is described as a genius, athlete, and extremely dangerous. Additionally, readers are told Harrison is seven feet tall and is handicapped with carrying three hundred pounds, thus proving his stout physical stature. Furthermore, readers are told instead of a little ear radio for a mental handicap, Harrison is given a pair of earphones and spectacles with thick wavy lenses, thus proving his erudition. I believe Harrison to be a round …show more content…
As the story progresses, we learn Harrison breaks out of prison and everyone should be on high alert to not even reason with him. Harrison crashes the television program to proclaim he is the emperor and everyone must swear fealty to him. Harrison’s actions in this scene exhibit possibly his pretentiousness and need for power, but I believe these characteristics are a result from being chained by his “handicaps”. After Harrison’s proclamation, he strips his “handicaps” off and I imagine this scene to be similar to a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Not just Harrison’s emergence either; when he takes the handicap from his empress, she is described as beautiful. After Harrison emerges from all his handicaps, he gains supreme confidence and begins commanding the musicians. Unfortunately for Harrison, his reign is cut short by the antagonist, Diana Moon