In this day and age, social injustices occur on a daily basis due to discrimination against one’s race, gender, sexuality, skills and more. These common occurrences promote the idea that more equality will better a nation which raises the question, would total equality actually benefit society? Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron succeeds in addressing this question and exposes the consequences of complete equality. His short story takes place in an egalitarian society where the government handicaps anyone who is naturally above average to achieve equality amongst all citizens. The text follows a man with above average IQ and an intellectual handicap named George Bergeron who lives with his average wife, Hazel. The two have a son, Harrison,
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A prominent symbol within the text is the handicap which represents the government’s control over the population. In the beginning of the story, George is introduced as a man with above average intelligence so, he is “required by law to wear [his handicap ear radio] at all times” (Vonnegut 33). As a result of his handicap, George is unable to have stimulating ideas because his handicap plays loud noises to interrupt his train of thought. The handicaps are a mechanism for the government to subdue those who appear to be a threat and censor citizens’ thoughts. Hence, the handicaps are a symbol of their control over the people as an attempt to achieve total equality. Consequently, the egalitarian based government heavily regulates society through handicap restrictions on individuals to erase the attributes that makes one unique. Moreover, Harrison Bergeron himself is a symbol of the rebellion against the government and the repercussions of implementing total equality. While on live television, Harrison breaks free from his handicaps and begins to dance gracefully with a ballerina in which “[n]ot only are the laws of the land abandoned, but the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well” (Vonnegut 36). Not only does Harrison break the Amendments by removing his handicaps, he dances with such fluidity that it appears as if he is also breaking the laws of gravity and motion which represents his insurgency against the government. Harrison is only able to express himself and achieve his best without handicaps weighing him down when he finally goes against the government’s policies of total equality. The symbolism of Harrison emphasizes the detrimental effects of egalitarianism and how it contradicts equality as Harrison is only able to truly be himself after he rebels. Above all,
A prominent symbol within the text is the handicap which represents the government’s control over the population. In the beginning of the story, George is introduced as a man with above average intelligence so, he is “required by law to wear [his handicap ear radio] at all times” (Vonnegut 33). As a result of his handicap, George is unable to have stimulating ideas because his handicap plays loud noises to interrupt his train of thought. The handicaps are a mechanism for the government to subdue those who appear to be a threat and censor citizens’ thoughts. Hence, the handicaps are a symbol of their control over the people as an attempt to achieve total equality. Consequently, the egalitarian based government heavily regulates society through handicap restrictions on individuals to erase the attributes that makes one unique. Moreover, Harrison Bergeron himself is a symbol of the rebellion against the government and the repercussions of implementing total equality. While on live television, Harrison breaks free from his handicaps and begins to dance gracefully with a ballerina in which “[n]ot only are the laws of the land abandoned, but the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well” (Vonnegut 36). Not only does Harrison break the Amendments by removing his handicaps, he dances with such fluidity that it appears as if he is also breaking the laws of gravity and motion which represents his insurgency against the government. Harrison is only able to express himself and achieve his best without handicaps weighing him down when he finally goes against the government’s policies of total equality. The symbolism of Harrison emphasizes the detrimental effects of egalitarianism and how it contradicts equality as Harrison is only able to truly be himself after he rebels. Above all,