The question of whether Harrison Bergeron is a hero or a villain depends on who you ask. For some readers, and perhaps for the ballerina who dances with him, he's a hero. For others, his declaring himself emperor, and commanding everyone to do as he says, serves as a sign of Harrison's dangerous egotism and thirst for power. And if you had to ask the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, you'd certainly be told that Harrison is a villain.

To explain this, we need to understand something about the society in which Harrison Bergeron lives. It is the year 2081, and the quest for equality has gone too far, as artificial handicaps are given to those who are deemed anything beyond mediocre. For example, the exceptionally intelligent have their brains hampered by artificial means, and those who are especially beautiful are forced to hide behind hideous masks.

Harrison Bergeron is exceptionally tall, strong, attractive, and intelligent. When he escapes from prison, breaks into a TV studio, tears off his handicaps, and dances with a ballerina, he showcases his extraordinary gifts, his contempt for the government, and perhaps his willingness to sacrifice his own safety to make a stand. For some, that might make him a courageous hero.

On the other hand, Harrison immediately attempts to seize power and glory for himself. After declaring himself emperor, he childishly stamps his foot to emphasize that everyone should heed his commands, describes himself as "a greater ruler than any man who ever lived," and violently bullies the musicians into playing to his liking—behavior that hardly fits the traditional idea of a hero. For her part, Diana Moon Glampers sees Harrison as an unequivocal villain, which is why she shoots and kills both Harrison and the ballerina. In putting a stop to this show of rebellion, she demonstrates her commitment to enforcing universal "equality."