Harrison Bergeron Failure

Every society needs an insurgent that is willing to risk their freedom and life to make the life of others better. In Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut presents a society that is supposed to make everyone equal. So equal that the most beautiful women are forced to wear the most hideous masks to hide their physical beauty. The most intelligent people are required to wear headphones or ear buds that will deliver a series of annoying sounds every 20 seconds just to make sure that any intelligent thoughts will no longer be manifested. The most physically strong are required to walk around with”forty-seven pounds of birdshot in a canvas bag” (22) to help slow them down or depreciate their strength. Diana Moon Glampers is the Handicapper General, whose primary purpose to confront the law breakers and …show more content…
Harrison Bergeron is the government’s worst nightmare. Harrison’s parents are submissive to the government and didn’t want to end up with “two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine” (27). The administration does its best to break Harrison, however none of the administration’s obstacles, including death and prison can stop Harrison. The fear of death or imprisonment is weak compared to his desire to live his life to the fullest. “Expression of alienation from socially present authorities” (Stinchcombe, 1964) describes Harrison and supports his successful rebellion. Harrison was indeed alienated because of his defiance and lack of submission. Overall, his alienation was due to him having none of the sassiness and inactivity that the others portray in the story. Although Harrison is an adolescent, he is a courageous rebel. It takes leadership to lead a successful rebellion. Harrison proved himself to be a dominant figure in his society. According to Raymond Cattell, one with dominance are “often times competitive and decisive and usually enjoy overcoming obstacles” (Cattell, 1954). A prime example, would be when Harrison