Harrison Bergeron Group

Question:

stouffy10
stouffy10
Student
High School - 10th Grade

When Harrison Bergeron takes over and joins together with the ballerina, what does this tell readers about the human spirit?

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Posted by stouffy10 on Sunday August 30, 2009 at 11:44 AM and tagged with harrison bergeron, theme.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    The incident when Harrison appears in the television studio after escaping from jail serves as the dramatic climax of the story. He bursts through the door, takes control of the studio, and engages the ballerina and the orchestra in an act of defiance against the government. Absent their horrible and repressive handicaps, Harrison and the girl create a vision of breathtaking grace and beauty as they dance together in a moment of soaring personal freedom. Their rebellion ends quickly as both are murdered and the government takes control again. This incident develops the theme that the human spirit can be shackled and repressed by authoritarian power, but it cannot be stamped out completely. Regardless of the efforts of the government to destroy the individuality of its citizens, Harrison's revolt and his moment of rebellion with the ballerina prove that ultimately the human spirit in its quest for freedom and personal expression is stronger and more enduring than the most repressive government. Many instances in human history support this idea.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/harrison-bergeron/character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/harrison-bergeron/summary

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    Posted by mshurn on Sunday August 30, 2009 at 1:25 PM