Harrison Bergeron

“Harrison Bergeron”
Author	Kurt Vonnegut
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Dystopia, Science fiction, political fiction
Published in	The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Media type	Print (magazine)
Publication date	1961

“Harrison Bergeron” is a 1961 short story by Kurt Vonnegut.

Plot

The story set begins in the year 2081. Nobody is able to be smarter than anybody else. So people with mental disabilities wear handicaps and people who are better looking than others have to wear a face mask. Harrison being taken away by the government caused him to escape and invade the television studio in an attempt to overthrow the government. He then takes off his handicaps along with a ballerina's handicap and calls himself the Emporer and her the empress. After they dance, Diana Moon Glampers, the handicapped general walks in and kills them.

Characters

George Bergeron

George Bergeron is Harrison Bergeron's father and Hazel Bergeron's husband. Despite his strength and "far above normal" IQ, George's abilities are limited by state-imposed mental and physical handicaps, making him equal to everyone else.

Harrison Bergeron

Is the son of George and Hazel Bergeron, he was taken away by the government at age 14. He is seven feet tall and appears to be the most advanced model the human species has to offer.

Hazel Bergeron

is the mother of Harrison Bergeron. She is described as having “perfectly average” strength and intelligence.

Works Cited

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