Inequalities In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

In “Harrison Bergeron,” a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, he tells a tale of a world, in the year 2081, where everyone is equal, in every way possible, even though some people were born with certain abilities that make them better than others. The government is able to control these inequalities through “the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution.” Furthermore, The Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, accomplishes controlling these inequalities by placing handicaps on people with an unfair advantage. These inequalities can be put into three separate categories: mental ability, physical appearance, and physical ability; each playing a significant role in Vonnegut’s story. Harrison Bergeron, a fourteen year-old boy who is regarded as a “genius and an athlete,” is the son of George and Hazel Bergeron. He is taken away by the H-G (Handicapper General) men and put into jail “on suspicion to overthrow the government.” Harrison then breaks out of jail; which is announced on a televised program that George, Hazel, and many other people watch unfold from their homes. Harrison, stampeding from the distance, displays his godlike abilities on national television by breaking through his heavily fortified handicaps. While it is obvious that Harrison is …show more content…
They dance and jump effortlessly as they are finally free to unleash and unravel their “abnormal” abilities. Before too long, the Handicapper General herself, Diana Moon Glampers, enters and fires her powerful double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun at Harrison and his empress. They lie dead as Glampers threatens everyone in an effort to immediately restore order. As expected, everything returns to normal as George soon forgets the event even took place due to his handicaps. In other words, the government maintains full control over everyone’s