The Success Of Harrison Bergeron's Law-Breaking

In the short story 'Harrison Bergeron', written by Kurt Vonnegut and first published in 1961, the protagonist, Harrison Bergeron, is introduced as a 14-year-old boy who is highly intelligent, athletic, and strong. Bergeron is taken away from his parents by the government, which has imposed laws to ensure that everyone is equal and that no one is smarter, better-looking, or more physically able than anyone else. Bergeron is imprisoned for plotting to overthrow the government, but he escapes and attempts to disable the handicaps that everyone is forced to bear. He is ultimately killed by Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, who represents conformity and equality. The story explores themes of equality, freedom, power, and media influence, and raises questions about the role of government and the dangers of a society that prioritises conformity over individual freedom and expression.

The story's dystopian setting

Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron"

The Handicapper General

In the satirical dystopian short story "Harrison Bergeron", written by Kurt Vonnegut, the Handicapper General is a character named Diana Moon Glampers. She enforces the equality laws in the United States in the year 2081, where the Constitution dictates that all Americans are fully equal and not allowed to be smarter, better-looking, or more physically able than anyone else.

Diana Moon Glampers and her agents ensure that citizens who are too beautiful, intelligent, or athletic are handicapped with devices such as ugly masks, earpiece radios, and heavy weights. These devices are intended to disrupt the thoughts of intelligent people, hide the faces of attractive people, and weigh down strong or athletic people.

In the story, the Handicapper General's agents, known as the H-G men, take away the son of George and Hazel Bergeron, a 14-year-old boy named Harrison, who is highly intelligent and athletic. Harrison is imprisoned for plotting to overthrow the government, but he escapes and goes to a television studio, where he declares himself emperor and removes his handicaps.

The Handicapper General's enforcement of equality laws

In the satirical dystopian short story "Harrison Bergeron", written by Kurt Vonnegut, the Handicapper General Diana Moon Glampers and her agents enforce equality laws by forcing citizens to wear "handicaps". These handicaps are designed to suppress any characteristics that make an individual stand out from the crowd. Here is an overview of the Handicapper General's enforcement of equality laws:

Ugly Masks

The beautiful are forced to wear ugly masks to hide their attractiveness. In the story, ballerinas are weighed down to counteract their gracefulness and masked to hide their good looks. The most beautiful ballerina, who is chosen by Harrison Bergeron as his empress, is described as wearing the most grotesque mask and heaviest weights.

Earpiece Radios

Intelligent individuals are forced to wear earpiece radios that emit irritating and disruptive noises at regular intervals. These noises are designed to interrupt their thoughts and prevent sustained concentration. In the story, George Bergeron, Harrison's father, wears such a device and struggles to maintain a train of thought due to the constant interruptions.

Heavy Weights

Strong and athletic individuals are burdened with heavy weights to impede their physical abilities. In the story, George Bergeron also wears a handicap bag containing 47 pounds of birdshot locked around his neck. His son, Harrison, is described as bearing 300 pounds of metal handicaps, including weights, to counteract his strength.

Other Handicaps

In addition to the masks, radios, and weights, the story mentions other handicaps designed to suppress individuality:

• Thick glasses that make it difficult to see
• Red rubber clown noses
• Black caps on teeth to create an unattractive smile
• Shaved eyebrows
• Implanted radio transmitters in the ears

Enforcement and Consequences

The Handicapper General and her agents enforce these equality laws with strict consequences for non-compliance. In the story, Harrison Bergeron is arrested and imprisoned for plotting to overthrow the government and remove his handicaps. He manages to escape and appears on live television, encouraging others to remove their handicaps. However, his rebellion is short-lived as the Handicapper General enters the studio and kills him and his chosen empress with a shotgun. She then threatens the musicians at gunpoint to put their handicaps back on.

The story highlights the extreme measures taken to enforce equality and the loss of individual freedom and expression. It serves as a cautionary tale, critiquing the idea of forced equality and the potential consequences of suppressing individuality.

Harrison's rebellion

Harrison Bergeron, a 14-year-old boy, is the son of George and Hazel Bergeron. He is a genius, athletic, and extraordinarily handsome. In the year 2081, the government has imposed laws that require everyone to be equal in every way. This means that no one is allowed to be smarter, better-looking, or more physically able than anyone else. To enforce this equality, the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, forces citizens to wear "handicaps" such as ugly masks, earpiece radios, and heavy weights.

Harrison, being highly intelligent and physically capable, is a threat to this society. He is arrested and taken away from his parents by the government on the suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. However, Harrison's parents, George and Hazel, are barely aware of what is happening due to their own handicaps. George, who is highly intelligent, is handicapped by a radio that emits loud noises to disrupt his thoughts, while Hazel has average intelligence and is not required to wear any handicaps.

One day, while watching a ballet performance on TV, George and Hazel witness Harrison's escape from prison. Harrison storms into the TV studio and declares himself the emperor, ordering everyone to obey him. He removes his handicaps and encourages others to do the same, defying the laws of the land. He chooses a ballerina as his empress, and together, they dance and fly high, defying the laws of gravity and motion.

However, Harrison's rebellion is short-lived. The Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, bursts into the studio and kills Harrison and the empress with a shotgun. She threatens the musicians and orders them to put their handicaps back on. George and Hazel, witnessing the tragedy on TV, are unable to remember what happened due to their handicaps.

The consequences of Harrison's actions

In the short story "Harrison Bergeron", the consequences of Harrison's actions are far-reaching and impactful, challenging the very foundation of the dystopian society in which the story is set.

Harrison's rebellion against the oppressive government and its draconian laws serves as a catalyst for change, however fleeting it may be. By removing his handicaps and declaring himself emperor, Harrison symbolises the rejection of conformity and the assertion of individual freedom and uniqueness. This act of defiance inspires others, as evidenced by the ballerina who rises to join him, and their subsequent dance, which defies the laws of gravity, serves as a powerful statement of resistance.

However, Harrison's actions also have dire consequences. His bold challenge to the established order results in his death, along with that of the ballerina, at the hands of Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General. Their deaths serve as a brutal reminder of the government's ruthless enforcement of its equality laws and the severe punishment for those who dare to break free from their handicaps.

The impact of Harrison's actions extends beyond his own demise. The story's ending, where George and Hazel quickly forget the tragic events they witnessed, underscores the dehumanising effect of government oppression and the mental handicaps imposed on the populace. Their inability to remember their own son's death illustrates the success of the government's efforts to control and suppress individual thoughts and emotions, creating a passive and compliant citizenry.

Furthermore, Harrison's rebellion highlights the inherent flaws and fragility of a society built on forced equality. By challenging the system, Harrison exposes the underlying corruption and the oppressive nature of those in power. His actions force a confrontation with the reality that true equality cannot be achieved through the suppression of individual strengths and talents but rather through the celebration and empowerment of diversity.

In conclusion, the consequences of Harrison's actions in "Harrison Bergeron" are profound and multifaceted. While his rebellion inspires a brief moment of freedom and individuality, it ultimately results in his death and reinforces the oppressive nature of the government. The story's ending also reveals the insidious effects of mental handicaps, as Harrison's parents quickly forget their son's tragic fate. Harrison's actions serve as a powerful critique of authoritarian rule and a cautionary tale about the dangers of enforced equality.

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