Harrison Bergeron is a short dystopian story written by Kurt Vonnegut. The story takes place in the year 2081 under a socialist US government. The story states that ‘to achieve mental and physical equality amongst all Americans, the government uses torturous handicaps on their citizens’. To keep total socialism, the government has had to arrest the ‘extraordinary’ Harrison Bergeron; who symbolises defiance and teenage rebellions with conflicting views on the government, throughout the story.
For someone that holds the name of the story, you’d be right to think this character faces conflict in this story. Harrison is introduced to the reader as a 14-year-old boy who is arrested ‘on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.’ A news bulletin …show more content…
Harrison is motivated and utterly convinced that he will succeed in overthrowing the government. He responds to this conflict by attacking it, hand on. Harrison interrupts a live TV broadcast and removes his and his empresses’ handicaps to show the who community what true beauty and being yourself looks like. Harrison then ‘instructs the musicians in their craft’ and ‘dances so beautifully that he manages to defy gravity.’ He claims on live television that he opposes the government's use of handicaps and declares himself to be the new leader. This shows the reader that his attempt to overrun the Handicapper General and the government was bold and courageous. It shows the reader about the type of character Harrison is; strong and firm. However, the backlash to his conflicting views is close and Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper general shoots and Harrison and his empress. His response to the conflict shows the American socialist society that taking over a government system isn’t as easy it seems.
In conclusion, Harrison Bergeron is a brawn fourteen-year-old who throughout the story conflicts with the views of the society he lives in. He strives to make himself ‘human’ again and help his society realise that they should embrace their talents and differences. However, his response to his conflicting views only further implemented the idea why a total socialist government is needed in America and is not easy to
For someone that holds the name of the story, you’d be right to think this character faces conflict in this story. Harrison is introduced to the reader as a 14-year-old boy who is arrested ‘on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.’ A news bulletin …show more content…
Harrison is motivated and utterly convinced that he will succeed in overthrowing the government. He responds to this conflict by attacking it, hand on. Harrison interrupts a live TV broadcast and removes his and his empresses’ handicaps to show the who community what true beauty and being yourself looks like. Harrison then ‘instructs the musicians in their craft’ and ‘dances so beautifully that he manages to defy gravity.’ He claims on live television that he opposes the government's use of handicaps and declares himself to be the new leader. This shows the reader that his attempt to overrun the Handicapper General and the government was bold and courageous. It shows the reader about the type of character Harrison is; strong and firm. However, the backlash to his conflicting views is close and Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper general shoots and Harrison and his empress. His response to the conflict shows the American socialist society that taking over a government system isn’t as easy it seems.
In conclusion, Harrison Bergeron is a brawn fourteen-year-old who throughout the story conflicts with the views of the society he lives in. He strives to make himself ‘human’ again and help his society realise that they should embrace their talents and differences. However, his response to his conflicting views only further implemented the idea why a total socialist government is needed in America and is not easy to