What is a summary of the conflict in "Harrison Bergeron"?
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The primary conflict of Vonnegut's celebrated short story "Harrison Bergeron" is considered a Man vs. Society conflict. The story is set in the year 2081 and the United States Constitution has been amended to create a completely uniform society, where everyone is equal in all facets of life. The government believes that eliminating individuality and personal freedoms will create a stable environment, where officials in positions of power will not be challenged and society will not be disturbed by ambitious, talented individuals. In order to assure complete equality, the agents of the United States Handicapper General require talented, attractive, and intelligent civilians to wear handicaps that limit their above-average abilities. Talented citizens like Harrison Bergeron suffer under the oppressive, restrictive laws and are forced to wear heavy, cumbersome handicaps. Harrison’s handicaps are so cumbersome that he resembles a “walking junkyard.”
Harrison's character epitomizes...
(The entire section contains 4 answers and 820 words.)
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