Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

Imagine a world where everyone is the same, equal. No one is better than each other. No one is more beautiful, smarter, or stronger than another. Life is believe to peaceful. But there is a danger to this equality. The short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” written by Kurt Vonnegut expresses this scenario. The story is located in a utopian society where the government forces the citizens to wear handicaps so everyone can be the same. Harrison Bergeron, who is smart, athletic and handsome, opposes this system. The handicapped general caught him and killed him. Life returns back to normal. The literary elements of characterization, setting, and theme helps understand the threat of absolute equality.

Characterization is one of the key literary elements to have a clearer knowledge of the story. Harrison Bergeron is a character who had many handicaps to follow the rules of the government. He had earphones, spectacles with thick lens, three

hundred pounds of scrap metal, rubber nose, eyebrows shaved off, and black caps on teeth. The announcer said, “He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous”(3). What if he did not have all of these handicaps? Harrison could have may professions if he is a genius. Since he is an athlete, he could be in a professional sport. There are many possible outcomes for his life. But because of his handicaps, he has to be the same as everyone else. The author chose to use characterization to show the potential harm it could cause if everyone had handicaps. Characterization is not the only literary element to comprehend this story.
Setting is another important literary element to understand because readers want to be influence and know where the story takes place. Vonnegut uses the futuristic world to help influence readers. The narrator states, “The year was 2081 and everyone was finally equal” (1). But why did Vonnegut use a futuristic setting to help impact readers? Vonnegut uses the futuristic world because it would be false to use the present. The present cannot show an equal utopian society because right now, everybody is not equal. No one knows what the future will look like. The future could have a chance of an utopian society and that is why Vonnegut uses a futuristic world. It influences readers because they will think about what the future will look like and be. They will wonder what will happen if society was actually equal. Vonnegut hopes that if the readers think about an utopian society, then they will see the negative side in it. There is one more literary element to fully grasp the message.
Understanding the theme of the story helps understand the message the author is trying to convey.

"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 (4). Vonnegut has many thoughts about equality and conformity. He is saying that everyone should have equality. But there are dangers and disadvantages of having a full on equality. Vonnegut shows the negative side of an utopian society. He is saying that it is good to have equality, but not everyone should have the same traits. Being difference is a good thing. The outcome of of an utopian society is not beneficial. Conformity is not also the best thing. If everyone behaviors are the same, then the same events will happen just the the story. There is not any growth in a equal word. Vonnegut is showing people that having a equal utopian society is not the most

fitting.
To understand the dangers of an equal word, it helps to the recognize the literary elements: characterization, setting, and theme. Vonnegut expresses characterization by showing how dangerous it is if everyone had handicaps to be the same. He shows there is not a benefit of being the same. Making sense of setting helps to think about the future, what a utopian society will be like, and what it has in store for the people. It will make people think about not only the positive but also the negative side in it. Theme is important because it helps think about the message the author is trying to tell. Vonnegut is saying there is harm in everybody being and acting the same. After reading this story, it has changed my view of an equal utopian society. I thought if everyone was equal, there would be less hate and crime. But I was wrong. Being different is what makes us unique.