Dystopia In Harrison Bergeron

Life Inside of a Dystopia
Imagine living in a dystopia, pretty horrific right? Unfortunately, this thought became a reality for all citizens under the control of the Handicapper General, Diana. In the short story, Harrison Bergeron, everyone is equal and most have handicaps. However, no one has as much as Harrison. In the text, people strive for excellence and use their image to make a difference in the world. However, the Handicapper General and the creation of the 211th, 212th, and the 213th Amendments to the Constitution, greatly held back the potential of the people. Throughout the short story, citizens strive to be the best person they can be, no matter who is trying to hold them back.
In Harrison Bergeron, many people strive for excellence. The ballerinas demonstrate this very thoroughly and always try their best. Even

though, they have multiple handicaps holding them back, the ballerinas never cease to do their best in each and every performance. Another group that strives for excellence are the announcers in the news bulletins. During a broadcast, one of them continually tries to say “Ladies and gentlemen” for thirty seconds, despite his serious speech impediment” (Vonnegut 3). Nevertheless, this would not be a problem if Diana, the Handicapper General, wasn’t in charge and the Amendments weren't put into action.

In the text, Diana Moon Glampers holds back the potential of citizens to keep ultimate power to herself. She began making the world “equal” through the distribution of handicaps to almost everyone in the dystopian society. These handicaps made the citizens all become average in everything they did on a day to day basis. The 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution solidified that equality and handicaps were acceptable. Now, “Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else” (Vonnegut 1). Furthermore, equality doesn’t allow for individuality and soon someone will figure this out.
In Harrison Bergeron, one individual uses their image to make a difference in the world.

At the end of the short story, “a man that would have awed Thor” decides to take off his handicaps in the center of a studio and help others get their own off (Vonnegut 4). This is very significant because for the first time, the citizens actually have hope for a greater future, where people could have true identities and personalities. In the studio, Harrison declares “I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived” (Vonnegut 4). This allows for the citizens of this broken society to come to the realization that there can be other leaders besides Diana. Now, because of this, people in this society may have brighter futures.
In conclusion, many different aspects go into making a society a dystopia, but through it all, citizens strive to be the best person they can be, no matter who is trying to hold them back. In Harrison Bergeron, there are many things to learn about leadership, perseverance and unwanted control. This short story proves that without individuality you cannot go far in this world, no matter who is involved in the

government.