Harrison Bergeron: Difference between revisions

Some fixes, CE, and revisions.
(→‎Major Themes: added them "pessimism of technology")
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==Plot==
==Plot==
The story begins in the year of 2081, where the 211th, 212th and the 213th amendments control the lives of individuals. Nobody is allowed to be smarter than anybody else and people with mental disabilities have to wear handicaps. Then people who are better looking than others have to wear a face mask. Harrison Bergeron being taken away by the government at the age of 14 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 both.
In 2081, nobody is allowed to be smarter than anybody else, and people who are smarter or more beautiful have to wear handicaps, like face masks or radios that buzz in their ears. These laws are strictly enforced by the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers. Harrison Bergeron has exceptional abilities, so was taken away From his parents George and Hazel when he was only 14. . . . Harrison escapes and invades 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 Emperor and her the empress. As they kiss, Diana Moon Glampers kills them both.


==Characters==
==Characters==
===Harrison Bergeron===
He 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. 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.
===George Bergeron===  
===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{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=135}}, making him equal to everyone else.
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===
He is the son of George and Hazel Bergeron, he was taken away by the government at age 14.{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=135}} He is seven feet tall{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=137}} 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===  
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{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=135}}, hence she has neither mental or physical handicaps. 
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, hence she has neither mental or physical handicaps. 


===Ballerina/Empress===
===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,"{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=138}} 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.{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=138}} Diana Moon Glampers shoots and kills Harrison and the Empress after the dance.{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=139}}
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 is beautiful and talented, so wears extreme handicaps like weights and an ugly mask. 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,"{{sfn|Vonnegut|2002|p=138}} she rises to her feet and joins him. Harrison takes away all of her handicaps, revealing her "blindingly attractive" beauty, and the two of them dance together brilliantly. Diana Moon Glampers shoots and kills Harrison and the Empress after the dance.


=== Diana Moon Glampers (Handicapper General)===
=== 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.{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=135}} She is the one who shot and killed both Harrison and the Ballerina on live television{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=1139}} in order to silence their opposition and convey a message to all residents that individualism and skill will not be allowed. 
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. She is the one who shot and killed both Harrison and the Ballerina on live television in order to silence their opposition and convey a message to all residents that individualism and skill will not be allowed. 


== Major Themes==
== Major Themes==
From the start, it is evident that equality is a major theme. The equality represented in the satire isn't what most people think of when they say they desire equality. The intelligent have their thoughts disrupted by jolting sounds, musicians have an unstated handicap that limits their abilities, and the beautiful wear horrible masks. {{sfn|Hattenhauer|1998|p=387}}
From the start, it is evident that equality is a major theme. The equality represented in the satire isn't what most people think of when they say they desire equality. The intelligent have their thoughts disrupted by jolting sounds, musicians have an unstated handicap that limits their abilities, and the beautiful wear horrible masks.{{sfn|Hattenhauer|1998|p=387}}  
Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=135}}


Yet when we look at Vonnegut's own words and three distinct story elements-the characters, the climax and the resulting meaning-we can see how muddled this once-thought-crysal-clear theme actually is.{{sfn|American Literature|1900-1999}}
A major theme presented in the story is the pessimism of technology. Vonnegut's depiction of science fiction correlating to equality is the absurdity of humanity.{{sfn|Klinkowitz|1973|p=147}} The fusion of technology and humanity in this world hinders the capabilities of human variance, causing the destruction of the universe.{{sfn|Klinkowitz|1973|p=148}}
 
A major theme presented in the story is the pessimism of technology. Vonnegut's depiction of science fiction correlating to equality is the absurdity of humanity.{{sfn|klinkowitz|1973|p=147}}The fusion of technology and humanity in this world hinders the capabilities of human variance, causing the destruction of the universe.{{sfn|klinkowitz|1973|p=148}}


==Development History==
==Development History==
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===Publication History===
===Publication History===
This is a short story that was written in  
“Harrison Bergeron” was first published in ''The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction'', then later republished in Vonnegut’s ''Welcome to the Monkey House'' collection in 1968.


===Explanation of the Work's Title===
===Explanation of the Work's Title===
<!-- Explain the work's title if it's not immediately obvious (e.g., ''[[Things Fall Apart]]''); be sure to support with sources -->
<!-- Explain the work's title if it's not immediately obvious (e.g., ''[[Things Fall Apart]]''); be sure to support with sources -->
Vonnegut named the story after the protagonist Harrison Bergeron, a all-American boy who tires to revolt and change the society in which he lives. {{sfn|Votteler|1991|p=427}}
Vonnegut named the story after the protagonist Harrison Bergeron, a all-American boy who tries to stage a revolt and change the society.{{sfn|Votteler|1991|p=427}}


==Literary Significance and Reception==
==Literary Significance and Reception==
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==Awards and Nominations==
==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 .
“Harrison Bergeron” earned Vonnegut the 39th Prometheus award on August 19, 2019 during the 77th World Science Fiction Convention in Dublin, Ireland.{{sfn|Library|2019}}


==Adaptations==
==Adaptations==
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==Citations==
==Citations==
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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|15em}}
 
== Works Cited==
== Works Cited==
Also see the [[/Annotated Bibliography|annotated bibliography]].
{{Refbegin|indent=yes|30em}} <!--Sources go between {{Refbegin}} and {{Refend}} in alphabetical order -->
* {{cite book |last=Harris-Fain |first=Darren |date={{date|2017}} |chapter=Social and Stylistic Rebellion in Kurt Vonnegut’s 'Harrison Bergeron' and Harlan Ellison’s '"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman' |title=Critical Insights: Rebellion |url= |location= |publisher=Grey House Publishing |pages=206–222  }}
* {{cite journal | last= Hattenhauer | first= Darryl | date= Fall 1998 | title= The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut’s 'Harrison Bergeron' | journal    = Studies in Short Fiction | volume    = 35 | issue      = 4 | pages      = 387–392 }}
* {{Cite book  | last = Klinkowitz  | first = Jerome  | year = 1973  | title = The Vonnegut Statement  | publisher = Library of Congress  | location = 
| pages = 147-148 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Vonnegut |first1=Kurt |date=2002 |chapter=Harrison Bergeron |title=Reading and Writing about Literature |editor-last=Sipiora |editor-first=Phillip |pages=135–139 }}
* {{Cite book | last =Votteler| first =Thomas | date ={{date|1991}} | chapter = Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. | title = Short Story Criticism | editor-last =Votteler  | editor-first = Thomas | publisher = Gale Research Inc. | pages = 423-438 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/vonnegut-wins-prometheus-award-for-harrison-bergeron/ |title=Vonnegut wins Prometheus Award for ‘Harrison Bergeron’ |author=<!--staff--> |date=August 19, 2019 |website=Kurt Vonnegut Museum Library|access-date=2021-10-13 |ref={{SfnRef|Library|2019}}}}
{{Refend}}


* {{Refbegin}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/vonnegut-wins-prometheus-award-for-harrison-bergeron/ |title=Vonnegut wins Prometheus Award for ‘Harrison Bergeron’|date=August 19, 2019 |website=Kurt Vonnegut Museum Library|access-date=13 October 2021}}
==External Links ==
* {{cite journal
{{Refbegin}}
| last1      = Hattenhauer
* {{cite web |url=https://www.enotes.com/topics/harrison-bergeron |title=Harrison Bergeron |author=<!--none stated--> |date={{date|n.d.}} |website=eNotes |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-13 }}
| first1    = Darryl
{{Refend}}
| date       = Fall 1998
| title      = The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron
| journal    =  Studies in Short Fiction
| volume    = 35
| issue      = 4
| pages      = 387
}}
 
* {{Cite book |last=Hattenhauer |first=Darryl |volume=35 Issue 4 |title=The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" |editor-last= Votteler |editor-first=Thomas |publisher=Literary Criticism |pages=387.6p. }}
 
* {{Refbegin}}{{cite web |https://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=9bc11879-c183-4974-9dd6-0bfea11a30a8%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHNoaWImc2l0ZT1lZHMtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=7239232&db=fth|title=The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut's was ‘Harrison Bergeron’|website=Kurt Vonnegut Museum Library|access-date=13 October 2021}}
* {{cite journal
| last1      = Hattenhauer
| first1    = Darryl
| date      = Fall 1998
| title      = The Politics of Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron
| journal    = Studies in Short Fiction
| volume    = 35
| issue      = 4
| pages      = 387
}}
 
* {{Cite book |last=Hattenhauer|first=Darryl|title=The Poliitics Kutchers Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergron" |publisher=Darryl Hattenhauer
 
*{{Cite book
| last = Klinkowitz
| first = Jerome
| year = 1973
| title = The Vonnegut Statement
| publisher = Library of Congress
| location = 
| pages = 147-148
}}
 
==External Links==
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[[Category:Literary]] <!-- Literary | Composition | New Media | etc. -->
[[Category:Literary]] <!-- Literary | Composition | New Media | etc. -->