Harrison Bergeron Character Analysis
“Everybody was finally equal.” This is what all people aspire to have, but true equality should never be attained. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the year is 2081 and the government has finally constructed their perfect world and made all its people equal. The government forcefully administers handicaps on those who are stronger and smarter than the average person. The character Harrison Bergeron passionately disagrees with this. With Harrison’s rebellious and forceful ways, he tries to overthrow the government because he feels this is unjust. Due to Harrison’s rebellious nature, the government throws him in jail and applies numerous handicaps on him just because he is stronger than the “average” person.
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Harrison desires to be emperor so he forces this upon the people “‘Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!.’”(3) This is clearly shows how forceful Harrison is. Also Harrison forces the band at the television station to play for him “‘Music!’ he commanded”(4) Harrison didn’t ask the band if they wanted to play he just forced them into it. This can be a good trait for a leader, but sometimes it can be too much. Harrison also tore off their handicaps not even asking them if that’s what they wanted “The musicians scrambled back into their chairs, and Harrison stripped them of their handicaps”(4). This shows how forceful Harrison can be.
By the same token Harrison is too rebellious for his own good, too strong for his own safety, and too forceful for his own goals. He shows this by breaking the 5000 pound handicap like celery, breaking out of jail to overthrow the government, and forcing the nation to be under his rule. Harrison Bergeron is being way too great of a person for this new and equal world. Ultimately Kurt Vonnegut is trying to show that true equality is unreachable and that a true utopia is where everyone is treated equal not everyone is physically and mentally
Harrison desires to be emperor so he forces this upon the people “‘Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!.’”(3) This is clearly shows how forceful Harrison is. Also Harrison forces the band at the television station to play for him “‘Music!’ he commanded”(4) Harrison didn’t ask the band if they wanted to play he just forced them into it. This can be a good trait for a leader, but sometimes it can be too much. Harrison also tore off their handicaps not even asking them if that’s what they wanted “The musicians scrambled back into their chairs, and Harrison stripped them of their handicaps”(4). This shows how forceful Harrison can be.
By the same token Harrison is too rebellious for his own good, too strong for his own safety, and too forceful for his own goals. He shows this by breaking the 5000 pound handicap like celery, breaking out of jail to overthrow the government, and forcing the nation to be under his rule. Harrison Bergeron is being way too great of a person for this new and equal world. Ultimately Kurt Vonnegut is trying to show that true equality is unreachable and that a true utopia is where everyone is treated equal not everyone is physically and mentally