Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron By Kurt Vonnegut

It’s the year 2081. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron”, by Kurt Vonnegut, all of the country is made equal due to the amendments. Therefore, everyone does the same thing, wears the same thing, and the world is repetitive.
Over the years technology has gotten a lot better so has the equality in the world. “The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal” (Vonnegut). With the all this technology changing the world it could be deadly and or hurt our nation. If everyone was the same life would be boring and repetitive and the world would probably begin to degrade and crumble. Everyone does the same thing and all people have been made equal through the use of physical and mental handicaps.The law is enforced by Diana Moon Glampers which is

the Handicapper General. The United States Constitution mandates now that equality in the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments. It is said that Bergeron had a rough childhood and that is the reason for his dark and twisted literary works. “And when you pile that on top of his experience in World War II - he was in Dresden when it was bombed and saw a city annihilated”(Weekend All Things Considered). Through this story one may believe a perfect society can never exist yet we wait for the day when the expressions of emotions.
“Americans...do not want to admit that such a government could be in power” (Alvarez). We are aware of the changes in technology that happens everyday but we look right past could happen. This could be a warning for us all that the future could be a deadly time for us as a nation. But on the other hand this could be a wake up call to everyone and maybe people will start to realize how technology can hurt us. Bergeron’s life was far from luxurious. He, after serving in the United States Army, was imprisoned by the German Army. “After attending Cornell University, where he majored in chemistry and biology, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving in the Second World War and eventually being taken prisoner by the German Army”(Encyclopedia of World Biography). With what people can make nowadays and what we know it could be a deadly combo.
The government will go to many extremes to enforce this new way of life they wish to have for their people.

“Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains” (Vonnegut). They see those who are intelligent as threats and feel they must stop them from using their own natural abilities. Vonnegut, not only seems to be against devices that generate ideas, but conformity as well. “In “Harrison Bergeron,” Vonnegut uses some of the same ideas when he portrays television as a kind of desensitizing, numbing, and clearly thought-stifling, rather than thought-provoking, medium”(Alvarez). If the government sees someone succeeding they see that as wrong and want them to stop. In order to stop them, they must apply a handicap. Whether it’s a beeping noise in your ear or wiping your memory, they will do whatever it

takes.
Harrison was taken away from his parents George and Hazel when he was only fourteen years old.

He is eventually shot by the handicapper general on television with his own mother watching. “She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor” (Vonnegut). Harrison’s father, George was preoccupied at the time and missed the whole thing. Hazel began to cry, but shortly stopped, could not remember what the matter was, and then life seemed to return to normal. Her husband tells her to stop crying not knowing that it was over the death of their very own son.Through this story one may believe a perfect society can never exist yet we wait for the day when the expressions of emotions. The sharing of talents and gifts and mostly love can all be experienced in the eyes of people who perceive each other as truly

equals.