A Literary Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron

The story Harrison Bergeron takes place in the year 2081 and everyone is equal by their physical and mental qualities due to enforcement by the law. A married couple named George and Hazel can only think in short bursts because of Hazel’s low iq and George’s small radio in his ear. The two of them have a son named Harrison who smart and strong and is taken away from his parents. Complications arise when Harrison escapes and people worry that he may take over the government and change society itself. The theme of this story that the most unique people in life are the most important, yet they are looked as bad to others and society refuses to accept them.

People that are unique are very strong and have enough power to accomplish large tasks. Harrison was looked at as different, but
Harrison was made out to be ugly by society. “Harrison looked like a walking junkyard...the H-G men required that he wear at all times a rubber ball for a nose, keep his eyebrows shaved off, and cover even his white teeth with black caps at snaggle-tooth random.”(3-4) He was described as being bad looking and different, therefore he would be bad. Since his looks were so frightening, people could not see his abilities and importance to the world so they would not accept him. Harrison was not the only one that was viewed badly. “He tried to think a little about the ballerinas...They were burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked…”(1) These ballerinas were covered so the public could not view their real beauty so everyone could be equal. They were made out to be unattractive so that no one could see their good characteristics. Therefore, Harrison and many others will not be accepted for their talents and good attributes because of their appearance that is given to them. These unique people are not only looked as bad, but also not accepted into