Harrison Bergeron Literary Analysis

The short story “Harrison Bergeron”, by author Kurt Vonnegut, embodies the characteristics commonly correlated with dystopian literature. Vonnegut conjures “a futuristic, imagined universe” as “THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal in every which way.” (Vonnegut 1) The first line of the story informs the reader that “Citizens conform to uniform expectations” and “Individuality and dissent are bad.”(ReadWriteThink 1). Everyone in the world of “Harrison Bergeron” is “equal”, as anyone with an intellectual standing higher than “average” is forced to wear a “little mental handicap radio”(Vonnegut 1) that disrupts the flow of thoughts after a certain period of time. This setting expresses a place where “Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.”(ReadWriteThink 1), which is a typical dystopian setting.

The protagonist [and titular character] Harrison Bergeron personifies the ideal characteristics of a dystopian protagonist.

The typical dystopian protagonist “often feels trapped and is struggling to escape”(ReadWriteThink 1). In the beginning of the story, Harrison is physically trapped in prison after being accused of “ suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government”, as well as mentally trapped by society. Harrison “escapes” by defying the laws of society as he barges into the studio and declares himself “Emperor” and “tore off the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper”. Under the government’s orders, the handicaps are required to be worn at all times. By removing the handicaps, Harrison is rebelling against the oppressive societal norms imposed on him. However, his victory over society is short-lived as “Diana Moon Glamppers, the Handicapper General, comes into the studio with a “double-barreled ten gauge shotgun” (Vonnegut

). “She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor.” (Vonnegut ). The story’s political viewpoint goes hand-in-hand with the characteristics of a dystopia. Dystopias usually “[through an exaggerated worst-case scenario] make a criticism about a trend, societal norm, or political system.”(ReadWriteThink 1) In this case, the political system of the United States at the time the story was written is being criticized. The story was written in 1961, a time where egalitarianism was widely promoted, a reference to the phrase “All men are created equal” from America’s Declaration of Independence. Vonnegut wants to show that if this phrase is taken too literally the end result can be quite dangerous. “If the goal of equality is taken to its logical conclusion, we may decide that people must be forced to be equal to one another in their appearance, behavior, and achievements” (SparkNotes 1).