Harrison Bergeron
“Harrison Bergeron” is a 1961 short story by Kurt Vonnegut.
| “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 |
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[1], making him equal to everyone else.
Harrison Bergeron
He is the son of George and Hazel Bergeron, he was taken away by the government at age 14.[1] He is seven feet tall[2] and appears to be the most advanced model the human species has to offer. Harrison is imprisoned for refusing to accept the government's regulations on himself and society, but he escapes, removes his handicaps, and in an act of disobedience against the government.
Hazel Bergeron
Hazel Bergeron is Harrison Bergeron's mother and George Bergeron's wife. Unlike her husband and son, Hazel is described as having "perfectly average" strength and intelligence, she can't think about anything except in brief spurts[1], hence she has neither mental or physical handicaps.
Ballerina/Empress
The Ballerina is one of the dancers in George and Hazel Bergeron's televised dance performance, which they watch for the duration of the story. She has serious mental and physical problems, as well as an ugly disguise, at first. When Harrison Bergeron storms onto the stage and orders, "Let the first woman who dares rise to her feet claim her mate and her throne,"[3] this dancer rises to her feet and becomes Harrison's Empress. Harrison takes away all of her handicaps, revealing her "blindingly attractive" beauty, and the two of them dance together brilliantly.[3] Diana Moon Glampers shoots and kills Harrison and the Empress after the dance.[4]
Diana Moon Glampers (Handicapper General)
She is the United States' Handicapper General. She is in charge of controlling the minds and bodies of all Americans in order to ensure that everyone is treated equally.[1] She is the one who shot and killed both Harrison and the Ballerina on live television[5] in order to silence their opposition and convey a message to all residents that individualism and skill will not be allowed.
Major Themes
Development History
Publication History
Explanation of the Work's Title
Literary Significance and Reception
Awards and Nominations
Vonnegut received the 39th Prometheus award for the short story "Harrison Bergeron" on August 19,2019 during the 77th World Science Fiction Convention in Dublin,Ireland.
Adaptations
Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sipiora 2002, p. 135.
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 137.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sipiora 2002, p. 138.
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 139.
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 1139.
Works Cited
- Vonnegut, Kurt (2002) [1908]. "Harrison Bergeron". In Sipiora, Phillip (ed.). Reading and Writing about Literature. Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Prentice Hall. pp. 135–139.
- Votteler, Thomas (1991). "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.". In Votteler, Thomas (ed.). Short Story Criticism. Gale Research Inc. pp. 423–438.
External Links
- "Harrison Bergeron". eNotes. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 2021-10-13.