Imagery In Kurt Vonnegut's 'Harrison Bergeron'

Ricardo Jimenez

Per: 02

9/17/14

Essay for Harrison Bergeron

Samuel Johnson noted that the human condition leads one to understand that, “It is better that some should be unhappy, which would be the case in a general state of equality.” However, if one were to mandate equality, it is equivalent to universal unhappiness. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., a cautionary tale that brings forth the general state of a society that is stated to be “completely equal.” Although it is shown that that is not the case, it is shown through the use of imagery, and symbolism. Giving the reader sense of dark oppression.

Vonnegut explores through the characterization of imagery as to how it can make everyone equal, and it is mostly shown through the

descriptions and details of the individuals who are handicapped, and those are considered to be too beautiful. In the story, the author states, “their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.” (Vonnegut, 36). In this line of text, it explains that those who are too pretty, in this case the ballerinas, are forced to wear a mask on their face in order to conceal their beauty, but that was all for the government’s pursue of true equality. Alternatively, imagery is used elsewhere in the story with the character Harrison Bergeron. The author gives a rather bias description of him, “He was exactly seven feet tall. The result of Harrison’s appearance was Halloween and hardware.” (Vonnegut, 37). It states that Harrison, a 14 year old boy, is seven feet tall―which is highly unlikely, and notes his appearance to be ‘Halloween and Hardware,’ using the word Halloween in order to get the reader contemplating on his looks: Halloween being a day where everything is considered scary, it explains that Harrison is scary-looking.
There is some sort of symbolism in the story, as well, giving it more meaning than being just that; a story.

When Harrison appears on stage, Vonnegut’s choice of dialogue for this certain character shows a deep symbolism, “"I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. ”Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!" He stamped his foot and the studio shook.” (Vonnegut, 38). One thing alone can be assumed: Harrison represents those who defy equality, those who believe that this type of equality is, in a way, messed up, and choose to fight against it. Though along with defiance, there comes those that try and discipline the virus of a society. Harrison is very well trying to assist the handicapped people―trying to convince them that this way of living is unfair, although he is soon put to rest by a woman who holds a different opinion, ”Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor.” (Vonnegut, 39). Diana is the woman who is trying to enforce her idea of true equality, causing her to kill two people who were defying the rules in order to maintain the perfect society. This symbolizes the government in a way, as they are trying to force we, society, what to

do.
It is worth mentioning how Vonnegut shows the dark oppression in the story, although accompanied by it comes a rare feature that is commonly referred to as dark humor. At the end of the story, it is shown how George and Hazel take in their son’s death so lightly, “"You been crying" he said to Hazel. "Yup," she said. "What about?" he said. "I forget," she said. "Something real sad on television." "What was it?" he said. "It's all kind of mixed up in my mind," said Hazel. "Forget sad things," said George. "I always do," said Hazel.” (Vonnegut, 39). The dark humor is mostly evident at the ending: the way they react to the death of their son is taken lightly, they don’t even know if they should be sad―rather, Hazel decides to forget about it, although this would be funny if it weren’t the death of a character, much less a relative, it is still presenting dark humor.
It should be noted that the story, Harrison Bergeron, does indeed include a large amount of rhetorical devices, making one believe that Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was a true genius. How amazing that he was able to write details, giving the reader a sense of imagery―symbolism included as well, playing an important part in the moral of the story, along with how these it managed to give the reader an insight of dark oppression.