“Harrison Bergeron” Study Questions

The opening sentence implies that the fact that everyone was equal in that manner was a good thing, something that we have been striving for. People were given handicaps so that no one would have an advantage over anyone else. Capitalism and democracy cannot prevail without competition so they must be gone. Totalitarianism has come with Diana Moon Glampers has found a way to control everyone and make them think it is for their own benefit. The elimination of advantages, difference, and competition suggests that these are the things that cause inequality.
These changes would be impossible under American capitalism because the people who have power, CEO’s, government officials, the wealthy, and the famous, would not allow anyone to make all people equal. They like being the best. The human tendencies of empathy and compassion could result in such a world. If middle class greed, envy, and pettiness spread, it could cause such a world because the middle class could over throw the people in power. The popularity of shows like Oprah hints that Americans enjoy watching compassionate people. Oprah is a role model because she gives to people and allows “ordinary people” on her shows and gives them advice along with physical things. Barbie dolls were redesigned to look more like “real” people in order to help young girls develop positive body images. Teachers inflate students’ grades when they show effort in order to make students feel good about themselves. Organized sports giving all members of the team playing time and giving trophies to every child on the team helps to give children self-esteem. These trends suggest that Americans want all people to feel like they are equal whether they have talent or intelligence or not.
The agents of “United States Handicapper General” makes sure that everyone is equal and that no one is smarter, more talented, or more beautiful that anyone else. Such agents are massive threats to society. They have power over everyone and can pretty much do whatever they want to. Political overthrow or revolution could cause such absurdities. Giving government way too much control could lead to this. These agents develop handicaps that people must use to make themselves equal with everyone else. They imprison or kill anyone who does not use proper handicaps.
Vonnegut might be parodying affirmative action, equal rights laws toward women, and civil rights laws. Conceptions that equality means everyone doing the same thing, that no one is better at anything than anyone else motivates radical mediocrity.
Equality related to commercial life means that everyone has the same buying power, everyone has the same quality of products and wage laborers have to pay everyone the same as what they are being paid. Yes, capitalism causes inequality but allows movements for equality. The tension of inequality is such an irresolvable force that no one short of an extreme radical could cause true equality.
Hruska statement reflects the American attitude that mediocrity is not good enough. Vonnegut seems to be saying that people will never be equal unless they are all willing to settle for mediocrity and never live out their true potential. He seems to be saying that competition is important.
George and Hazel Bergeron are described as an intelligent husband who is greatly handicapped and a “normal” wife. They lead a “normal” life just like everyone else. Vonnegut is parodying the average family and warning against believing everything you hear. Television, radio, and the mass media tell you only what they want you to know and then switch quickly to the next subject, which most often keeps you from thinking for yourself.
Harrison Bergeron is such a threat to society because he is incredibly talented, incredibly strong, and incredibly handsome. He also does not believe that he should have to be handicapped in order to make other people feel good about themselves. He is fourteen years old and has been handicapped by three hundred pounds of scrap metal, head phones, glasses, a red nose, and no eyebrows.
Harrison appearing where his escape was being reported made it so that the whole world could see him and what he had to say. He says that he is the Emperor because he is so superior to everyone else. I’m not sure Vonnegut is suggesting a return to feudalism and aristocratic political institutions, he was just saying that Harrison was superior.
Harrison is trying to show the world how could it can really be, instead of constantly being plain and normal. His actions can be compared to Sammy’s in that he was trying to be a hero and make a change and also he did pick an empress as Sammy did his queenie. Sammy’s actions were caused by this girl and his fascination with her. Harrison’s were caused by his talent and his frustration that he was not allowed to use it. The young strive for change and the old just see things the way they’ve always been. The damsel in distress motif translates to people needing a hero to come in and lead them to what’s best.
Harrison tells the musicians that he will make them barons and dukes and earls in order to motivate them to do what he wants them to do. Such noblemen would follow their emperor and obey him without question. By following his orders, the musicians obviously wish to become noblemen and therefore do not want to be equal with everyone else. They want to be better. Beauty and aesthetics play a big part in Harrison’s rebellion. He himself is extremely handsome and his empress is truly beautiful. Unveiling their beauty to the world makes the world know that everyone is not equal and allows for them to be followed.
Harrison and the ballerina’s dance and kissing represent beauty and talent and desire in a world where these things have been completely banished and hidden. Their dance was so beautiful and graceful it seemed as if they were defying all laws of gravity and motion and doing with their bodies only what they willed.
Diana Moon Glampers shooting down Harrison and the ballerina shows that she will go to any length to keep the world how she wishes it to be. Her name suggests that she is hard and cold as the dark side of the moon. Her character is similar to Lengel’s in that they both were extremely set on everyone following the rules just how they felt they should be followed. They’re also similar in that they both ended a fantasy for the protagonists in the stories.
Hazel Bergeron forgets what she is crying about because she is mentally handicapped, not by the general but just by life. The last line of the story signifies the monumental typre of day that has just occurred and been completely forgotten.
The appropriate limits to enforcing equality is making sure that everyone gets a fair shot but not limiting people from being the best that they can be and not stopping the better suited, more talented person from getting the job or winning the election or whatever. People should be given equal opportunities but actual results should depend on personal quality and talent because if you make laws saying that you have to hire a person just because they are a minority it limits the majority from having a shot and being the best that they can be.