Harrison Bergeron Conformity

The world is divided up into numerous things: Countries, states, cities, communities, etc. However, when looking at the big scope of things, one can group the vast amount of people into a society. This society is where the majority lie in the scheme of things - in other words, the common people. Individuals do exist in this society, but they are scarce in a world of conformism. Society’s standards demands an individual to conform, and if the individual refuses they are pushed down by society.

The individual is required to comply with society’s ideals. In the short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut sets the scene in this futuristic community when he begins, “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal … They were equal every

which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else.

Nobody was better looking than anybody else,” (627). This quote shows that in Harrison Bergeron’s society, everyone is identical to everyone else. People are not allowed to be unique or different in any way, shape, or form. This is due to the immense pressure of society that forces people to conform. In this case, it is the Handicapper General, one of the most influential powers, that is oppressing the individuals to become similar as well as the common person who is going along with it. When the Handicapper General suppresses George, he is forcing him to conform to be “normal,” and when the majority of the population goes along with it, they are reinforcing the conformism. This idea is also reinforced in the poem, “Richard Cory.” When describing how society views the “perfect” protagonist, the writer explains “In fine, we thought he was everything / To make us wish that we were in his place, (Robinson Lines 11-12). This quote shows how society has forced Richard Cory to be this perfect image of a man. Richard Cory was not allowed to be individualistic due to society’s standards. A good man was supposed to be rich, a gentleman, and happy. These qualities of a good person pressed in on Cory and made him become something that he was not. In the end, Richard Cory’s downfall is

because he could not express himself fully and be who he truly was. He was happy enough for society, but not happy enough for himself because he was not really himself. In both “Harrison Bergeron,” and “Richard Cory,” the societies force the majority to conform to a common standard. When conforming, the the vast amount of people lose what makes them special, having to pretend to be another entirely. Thus, the pressure society puts on an individual to obey the ideals creates a loss of individualism.

In addition, when an individual declines to conform to the pressures of society (a rare occurrence) , they are ostracized for being different. This atmosphere creates a hostile environment for the few that try to keep their individualism In the narrative, “The Murderer,” Brock is asked about why he has not protesting peacefully against technology and responds, “And I,” said Brock, “am that thing called a minority. I did join fraternities, picket, pass petitions, take it to court. Year after year I protested. Everyone laughed. Everyone else loved bus radios and commercials. I was out of step.” This quote shows how Brock is looked down upon by the rest of society. His alternate view on technology does not coincide with the majority of people. Even though his perspective on the use of technology seems correct to the reader, society disregards him instantly for not believing in the majority opinion. It did not matter whether Brock’s views were insane or accurate. Society ostracized the individual for being an individual. If society can not make an individual conform, then it will exclude the individual. Another superb example of society’s oppression of the individual occurs in the poem, “Much Madness is Divinest Sense,” where the poet Emily Dickinson describes the “Assent-and you are sane- / Demur-you’re straightway dangerous- / And handled with a chain.” (Dickinson Lines 6-8)