An Analysis of the Story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s "Harrison Bergeron" is a short story set in the year 2081. At this time, it is believed by the government that there should be no competition between the people. Everyone should be equal in intelligence, appearance, strength and ability, etc. The main character of the story, Harrison, is a government rebel. He believes he is superior to the government workers and should be the "emperor" (3). This new government of 2081 wants everyone to be equal and anyone who is better than another is given a handicap or multiple handicaps. George Bergeron has handicaps of 47 pounds of weights around his neck and an ear transmitter which sends out sharp noises almost every 20 seconds to disrupt his thoughts. This is because he has strength and above average intelligence.

Hazel Bergeron on the other hand has no handicaps, at least none that are acknowledged, therefore we are led to believe she is average or below average. Harrison is the fourteen year old son of Hazel and George Bergeron. His physical and mental makeup defies everything the government stands for; his handicaps included a pair of earphones to distort his thoughts, spectacles that are thick and wavy to give him "whanging headaches" (3), a red ball on his nose, black caps on his teeth, shaved eyebrows, and three hundred pounds worth of scrap metal. Harrison's handicaps represent his above average strength, intelligence, and handsome appearance. Because of these attributes, Harrison was thrown in jail for "suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government" (3).

While Hazel was watching TV one night an announcement was made about her son being dangerous and under handicapped. Harrison interrupted the announcement by tearing the door to the auditorium off its hinges. As he entered he says, "I am the Emperor! Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once! Even as I stand here crippled, hobbled, sickened--I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!" (4). Harrison then proceeded to tear the handicaps off his body. Once he was done he wanted to claim an Empress, which would be the first woman brave enough to step forward and have her handicaps removed by him. It was in fact the most beautiful ballerina who showed her bravery and stepped forward first. They proceeded to dance the most beautiful and graceful dance to the most elegant music. They danced so beautiful and with so much passion they leapt, defying gravity, thirty feet high and met in a passionate kiss. This was all too good to be true for the both of them and the audience watching. Of course the law would never allow this and indeed had come to put it to an end. The Handicapper General entered with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun, she fired twice hitting her mark.

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The Emperor and Empress were both dead before their bodies had a chance to hit the floor. This government stood for something. They stood for equality and they intended to keep the equality. Anyone who opposed that was a problem and would not be accepted, they would be dealt with. Harrison, more than likely, wasn't the only one who tried to challenge the government, but not many people probably haven't tried it. Harrison was a brave soul who tried to go after something but because it was don't irrationally and abruptly his plan didn't go through too long. Although he was an exceptional being he wasn't immortal which, I don't believe, he took into account.

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