Dysfunctional Society In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

Science fiction writers like Kurt Vonnegut Jr. envisioned the future of humanity to be controlled to a high degree by technology and the government, shown specifically in his short story “Harrison Bergeron”; resulting in control that seems comforting but in reality makes for a dysfunctional society and hurts everyone in the end. In the futuristic society in the story, everyone is made equal by the government’s Handicapper General so nobody can feel inadequate. “ ...their faces [the dancers] were masked so that no one...would feel like something the cat drug in” (Vonnegut 1). Members of the society are comforted by the idea that all are equal. The society is dysfunctional because everyone is supposedly “equal” but not everyone can function at

tasks at an equal level. “ the announcer, like all announcers, had a serious speech impediment. For about half a minute, ...the announcer tried to say, "Ladies and Gentlemen.”” (3). The announcer’s occupation is to give information to listeners but it is almost impossible to just address the listeners. There is no competition so the level of skill and refinement is the bare minimum. Harrison told the musicians“"Play your best,": at first, it was “cheap, silly, false.” But after Harrison “waved them like batons as he sang the music as he wanted it played”, the music got much better and improved. (5). This showcases how pressure helps bring people to a higher level: the lack of pressure keeps people at a low level and ultimately hurts society.