An Analysis of the Theme of Equality in Harrison Bergeron, a Science Fiction Short Story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. In 1960

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a great depiction of people's mindset in modern day America. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. bases this science fiction short story on 1960's America, and the fight against communism. In modern day America everyone is equal before the law, but Vonnegut touches on how this could become a bad thing if it is implemented incorrectly. Not much has changed in the United States in terms of equality, even though it is not in the literal sense that Vonnegut describes it in Harrison Bergeron. The government that Vonnegut writes about tries to implement total equality amongst the people, through the use of symbols such as noise, television, and Harrison Bergeron's character. Prescription medication in the United States has become a widespread solution used on children with disorders.

Adderall and other types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication are used on children every day. These prescription medications are supposed to slow the brain down, and help children with ADHD to stay quiet and sit still. In Harrison Bergeron the government gives each person a handicap so that no one will be smarter, or more beautiful than the other. Everyone is equal in everything. One of the handicaps includes a sharp noise in that is supposed to stop certain people from having higher brain activity. This draws a duality between Vonnegut's fictitious future, and modern day America. When George, Harrisons father, in the story hears these sharp noises he becomes fatigued "All of a sudden you look so tired, said Hazel"(par 24). This is similar to children that take ADHD medication; it can cause them to be very tired and sluggish. Governments commonly use some type of mass communication to send subtle messages to their citizens. This mass communication of information and ideas creates a way of thinking for a society. In Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut uses television as a symbol of the government sending messages to the people. "He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous" (par 42) this statement was announced by one of the ballerinas in a live television broadcast.

This broadcast was supposed to make the people fear Harrison Bergeron so the government can ensure that his individuality is not supported. This is similar to media in modern day America, often times reality becomes misconstrued so that the government can control what people's opinions are toward certain issues, and topics. In the short story Harrison Bergeron television is also used to keep the people preoccupied and not have them thinking about other things. "You been crying? he said to Hazel. Yup, she said. What about? He said. I forget, she said" (par 81). Television can be cause people to be very forgetful, which is the message that Vonnegut is instilling in his story. Noise is a constant symbol; it gets louder as the events in Harrison Bergeron unfold. The very first handicapping noise that George hears is a buzzer. The last noise that he hears in the story is a riveting gun. The gun is basically a symbol of Harrison Bergeron's death, with him and the ballerina getting shot just moments before. The noises that George hears prevent him from putting his overly active brain to good use. In modern day America children spend most of their time listening to modern music, and a lot of the time that music can be very handicapping to children's minds.

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It makes them forgetful because all that is flowing through their brains are lyrics to rap songs that are not very meaningful. It can also handicap their minds and hold them back from putting their minds to good use. Individuality is a key concept in every person's development. People need to be able to grow in their own way and be their own person. In Harrison Bergeron equality prevented individuality. The story is named after Harrison Bergeron because he was the only character that stood out in terms of having, and making his own decisions, and doing what he wants to do. Unlike George, his father, Harrison did not allow his handicaps to hold him back from breaking free. Unfortunately his actions resulted in him being shot by the handicapper general.

By killing Harrison off, Vonnegut creates a very unsettling thought in the reader's minds. He leaves the readers thinking about modern day America and how this could also be the case with anyone who tries to break free from the government. No matter how hard people try to implement equality it is an impossible task. Through Vonnegut's science fiction short story readers begin to realize that equality counter acts itself. Even though all of the people in the story were handicapped, they all had different handicaps, which left them unequal. In modern day America everyone is equal before the law, but there is a constant push to fit in with everyone else and to do what is considered to be 'normal'. Vonnegut builds this futuristic contrast with modern day America in this classic short story.

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