Harrison Bergeron
Harrison Bergeron
"If I tried to get away with it, then other people'd get away with itand soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again " This statement by George Bergeron sums up Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s short story "Harrison Bergeron" in one line. "Harrison Bergeron" is the story of a futuristic United States in the year 2081, where all individuals are made equal regardless of what their natural born characteristics were. They are made equal both mentally and physically, all to the same measure of intelligence and strength. In "Harrison Bergeron" the society has become apathetic and equally conformed because of the power of the Handicapper General, the forced use of handicaps, and the people within the society who continued to let themselves be controlled. Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, is the person in control of this society's laws determining what handicaps people should have. She also is the enforcer of keeping these handicaps on and keeping all individuals equal. She has the right and the power to carry a "ten-gauge shotgun." She determines the weight of the handicaps to make a person weaker and the sounds that their minds hear to distract them from thinking, as not to be smarter than anyone else. Solely, Diana Moons Glampers has the power to conform this society and keep them at a minimal level of competition and innovation, which stifles the society from having new and interesting experiences. The society has become apathetic because they have become terrified of the power of Diana Moon Glampers: "It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and Empress were dead before they hit the floor." While Harrison and the ballerina where dancing, relieved of their handicaps for just a few moments, their lives were simple, normal and they were free. Diana Moon Glampers was able to end that feeling and keep the laws and people under
"If I tried to get away with it, then other people'd get away with itand soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again " This statement by George Bergeron sums up Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s short story "Harrison Bergeron" in one line. "Harrison Bergeron" is the story of a futuristic United States in the year 2081, where all individuals are made equal regardless of what their natural born characteristics were. They are made equal both mentally and physically, all to the same measure of intelligence and strength. In "Harrison Bergeron" the society has become apathetic and equally conformed because of the power of the Handicapper General, the forced use of handicaps, and the people within the society who continued to let themselves be controlled. Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, is the person in control of this society's laws determining what handicaps people should have. She also is the enforcer of keeping these handicaps on and keeping all individuals equal. She has the right and the power to carry a "ten-gauge shotgun." She determines the weight of the handicaps to make a person weaker and the sounds that their minds hear to distract them from thinking, as not to be smarter than anyone else. Solely, Diana Moons Glampers has the power to conform this society and keep them at a minimal level of competition and innovation, which stifles the society from having new and interesting experiences. The society has become apathetic because they have become terrified of the power of Diana Moon Glampers: "It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and Empress were dead before they hit the floor." While Harrison and the ballerina where dancing, relieved of their handicaps for just a few moments, their lives were simple, normal and they were free. Diana Moon Glampers was able to end that feeling and keep the laws and people under