What is the main theme, other than "the danger of total equality", in "Harrison Bergeron"?

A theme is an underlying idea found all throughout a piece of literature that helps unify the work. A theme is also an idea that's universally applicable, an idea the reader can take away with him/her. The difference between a work's theme and a work's subject is that a subject is merely what the work is about, whereas the writer's opinion can actually be found within the theme.

To say that the major theme in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s short story "Harrison Bergeron" is "the danger of total equality" would most definitely be missing a major point in his short story because equality is never actually achieved in the short story; it's only superficially achieved, so we could never call something that doesn't really exist, like equality, a danger. Instead, Vonnegut's short story is pointing out an ironic truth: no two different groups can be treated fairly at the exact same time; to be fair to one person is to shortchange the other.

Vonnegut is pointing out the dangers of conformity, a danger we've seen all throughout history. For example, in wanting a superior, uniform race of people, the Nazis wanted to eliminate anyone who was different from that race, such as the Jews, the disabled, the homosexual, etc. The characters in Vonnegut's story are trying to do the exact same thing: they are trying to create a uniform majority by eliminating any of the minorities, including the beautiful and the intelligent.

Hence, it can be said that Vonnegut's true theme is the danger of believing equality is the same thing as conformity. To be equal, we do not have to believe that we all have to be exactly the same. What's more, we don't have to limit those who are exceptional or gifted to raise up those who have natural impairments. Only by raising the bar higher do we help those with weaknesses achieve anything beyond their limits. Hence, we can even say that a second main theme is the need to raise standards to help the weaker achieve beyond their limits.

Textual evidence that supports the themes of either the danger of equating equality with conformity or the need to raise standards can be seen in Harrison's actions. When Harrison entered the TV studio, he immediately removed his own handicaps and the handicaps of all who were talented, including the musicians and ballerinas. He then set out to defy all laws, including the laws of gravity and motion, in order to raise standards to show the true meaning of freedom, or as he phrased it, "Now ... shall we show the people the meaning of the word dance?"

What are the themes in "Harrison Bergeron"?

In order to complete this assignment you should first identify the characters. The first character of course is Harrison Bergeron. The story also talks about his parents, George and Hazel. You also have the Handicapper General of the United States, Diana Moon Glampers. Finally you have the announcer and the dancer, who dances and dies with Harrison Bergeron in a final act of defiance.

Another aspect of this card report is tone and style. These are often similar in a piece of writing. This story relies a lot on dialogue, and uses fairly simple language, as it is trying to, in some ways, mimic the handicaps that the characters live with. The story is interrupted by the mental handicaps to give the reader a feeling similar to that of the story.

The tone could be described as sad, though you can also argue that this story is a satire as it is certainly making a political commentary about the way we view differences and the dangers in trying to erase independence and uniqueness.

The irony in Harrison Bergeron comes with the fact that in the end he was forgotten. This story is about an incredible act of defiance and change. Harrison Bergeron goes against all odds and becomes a hero... for only a moment. He is then killed, and even his parents immediately forget about his death and his heroic dance. It's a very sad irony that leaves the reader feeling a little shocked and encourages us to think.

Finally, symbol. You could look at the handicaps as a symbol and talk about the ways that even though these handicaps are meant to completely equalize everyone, in reality you can still tell how strong someone is based on how much weight they carry, or how beautiful they are based on how ugly the mask is. People are different, and there is no way to actually hide that.

What is one significant quote from Harrison Bergeron that could hint at the theme?

He tried to think a little about the ballerinas. They weren't really very good-no better than anybody else would have been, anyway. They were burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.

This quotation brings out several of the themes of "Harrison Bergeron." First, George is trying to think, always difficult given the continual barrage of noises to which he is subjected. The handicaps mean that no one can ever think clearly and it is about the handicaps that he is trying to think. Is it really a good idea that no one is better at anything than anyone else? Why should anyone watch dancers on television when the dancers are "no better than anybody else would have been?"

This quotation is unusual, however, in suggesting a motive for all this equality. It is not clear whether the thought comes from George or is added by the author, but the quotation ends with the idea that the sight of "a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face" would make the observer feel "like something the cat drug in." This means that the policy of handicapping is motivated not by some abstract desire for universal equality but by envy and feelings of inadequacy. Equality sounds like a grand aim but Vonnegut suggests that those who aim at it may have mean and spiteful motives.

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

The underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron," which does not lie very far from the surface, is that this type of equality is not worth the price you have to pay for it. Given the handicaps with which he has been weighed down, Harrison, understandably, rejects the concept of equality altogether and wants to create a society of vigorous individualism. Vonnegut's view, however, is subtler than that of his protagonist. He does not necessarily regard it as a bad idea for opportunities to be distributed equally (at least, there is nothing in the text to suggest this). However, he clearly sees that forcing equality of outcome on a society would reduce everyone to the lowest common denominator. The government handicaps the intelligent so that they are no longer exceptional in relation to others.

There is a related point about the confusion surrounding the word "equality." Apart from differentiating equality of opportunity from equality of outcome, there is a more basic mistake, emphasized in the first paragraph, of misreading "equal" to mean "the same." Equality before the law, for instance, does not require that everyone should have the same abilities or resources. It simply means that someone accused of a crime will be treated in the same way as anyone else, whether they happen to be rich or poor, handsome or ugly, clever or foolish.

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

In Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron," the United States has transformed into a dystopian nation, where the government suppresses individualism in order to create a completely uniform society, eliminating all forms of competition and making everyone equal in all areas of life. Since talented, intelligent citizens are considered a threat to the government, they are forced to wear various handicaps that significantly limit their above-average abilities. Heavy bags of birdshot are strapped to physically stronger or larger citizens to restrict their movements, intelligent civilians wear handicap radios in their ears to disrupt their thoughts, and beautiful people are required to wear ugly masks. The government's intention of securing equality for all is taken to the extreme and negatively impacts the lives of talented individuals like George and Harrison Bergeron.

The main message of Vonnegut's story concerns the importance of balancing equality with freedom and individualism. In the story, the totalitarian regime takes extreme measures to ensure equality, with no regard for personal rights or individualism. Their solution to forming a more equal, less competitive society creates a dystopia, where the most talented, skilled citizens are severely punished. People with above-average abilities suffer, and standards across the country are significantly lowered to appease less talented civilians. Although Vonnegut advocates for equality, his short story reveals the importance of balancing equality with freedom and individualism. While creating equal opportunities for all is an amicable goal, Vonnegut warns against invasive government policies that restrict personal rights and individualism in the name of equality.

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

The underlying message throughout the short story "Harrison Bergeron" concerns the dangers of total equality. In Vonnegut's dystopian America, the government has amended the Constitution to make every citizen entirely equal in virtually every aspect of life. Citizens are forced to wear cumbersome mechanisms that prevent physically and intellectually talented individuals from reaching their full potential—all so that they will remain equal with everyone else. While equality that pertains to individual rights is commendable and just, Vonnegut presents a society that has taken equality to its furthest extent. In Vonnegut's dystopian America, individuality is utterly suppressed, and citizens suffer for being gifted or attractive. Harrison Bergeron is forced to wear heavy, cumbersome weights, an incredibly ugly mask, and enormous earphones in order to make him equal with other citizens. When Harrison escapes from prison and attempts to overthrow the government, the reader is filled with a sense of excitement and hope. However, the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, ends Harrison's life before he can fulfill his dream. The reader is left with a pessimistic, concerned feeling towards the concept of total equality. Vonnegut's short story was meant to provoke thought on the ideas of individuality, personal rights, and equality.

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

Many dystopian stories end with a message of hope, of the possibility that the system will change, the people will rise up and evil will be vanquished. Not so with "Harrison Bergeron." This story is deliberately bleak and depressing; here, total government control of the populace is not only inevitable, but impossible to fight.

The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.
(Vonnegut, "Harrison Bergeron," tnellen.com)

One strong message of the story is that the attempt to make everyone equal, not only in status (all men are created equal) but in fact, results in stagnation of culture and society. Instead of treating all people the same way, the government here attempts to make everyone physically and mentally the same so nobody will feel badly. The result is total control of the populace, and when Harrison rebels, he is struck down as evil, a man who rightly believes himself to be superior to others. Exceptionalism is therefore seen as a negative trait, while the pursuit of the perfect average is seen as moral.

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

The message of Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" is that a society in which everyone is equal in every way is utterly implausible. The premise behind this story is that equality is created by artificially handicapping those who are gifted with particularly good looks, extreme strength, or above-average intellect.

The world of 2081 is one in which beautiful people are made less attractive by having to wear hideous masks, and intelligent people must tolerate wearing in-ear radios that constantly interrupt their thoughts. This means that for Harrison Bergeron, who is over seven feet tall at the age of fourteen and is described as "a genius and an athlete," life comes with immense challenges.

While on paper, the justification for these laws seems ethical, the way in which these laws restrict gifted people and limit their progress are cruel and ludicrous. The exaggerated nature of these laws drives home the point of the story, which is the need to accept that some people are more gifted than others and that while every effort should be made to uplift people, limits cannot be placed on their capabilities.

The murder of Harrison Bergeron and his dance partner on live television drive home the message that in this world, there is no room for talent or anything out of the ordinary.

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

Just as no two things in nature are exactly the same, people are not meant to be the same. 

People vary in their looks; they vary in their talents and intelligences [alluding to Gardner's Intelligences], they vary in size. There is nothing evil about this, nor anything wrong with it; this is the state of life. "All men are created equal" does not mean they must be the same.

The greatest evil about everyone being "equal" in Harrison Bergeron's society is that the only way to make everyone "finally equal" is to dumb everyone down, not raise people's intelligence. Similarly, everyone is made to look "average" and to have no abilities that are superior to others. What a dull world, and a cruel one that punishes the bright and creative and athletic and beautiful. It is no wonder that Harrison rebelled. What incentive can there be to achieve anything, what motivation can there be to act with courtesy or courage or other virtues? Without individuality, people lose what it is to be human.

It is, indeed, an insipid world that has "everyone finally equal."

What is the underlying message of "Harrison Bergeron"?

There are a number of possible morals to be drawn from Harrison Bergeron. One of the first is the inevitability of certain kinds of inequality. It is impossible to suggest that all humankind can be equal in the sense that different people have different talents and that there should be opportunities for people to express and explore their talents as they provide all kinds of wonderful things to the human race.

Another possible moral is the irrepressible nature of humanity demonstrated by Bergeron's incredible ability to withstand so much resistance and to free those around him to demonstrate their beautiful talents. The fact that he was both motivated and able to throw off all the impediments that had been placed upon him suggest the power of the human spirit.

One more possible moral might be the dangers of wanting to make people equal in ways that are impossible and immoral. It is certainly moral to help people have equal opportunity and equal rights but trying to level the playing field when it comes to unique talents and capacities is absurd.

How does "Harrison Bergeron" relate to current society?

Kurt Vonnegut wrote "Harrison Bergeron" in 1961, which was in the midst of the Cold War and just after the end of the Joseph McCarthy-era of anti-Communist witch hunts by the U.S. Congress. While this story has been used by many different political groups to mean many different things, conservative groups have latched on to this story's anti-equality message. Conservative groups have read this story as a warning that the equality required by socialism and communism require conformity and reduces society to its lowest-common denominator instead of requiring the competition that is inherent to capitalism.

They take George Bergeron's warning to his wife as a warning of what would happen if equality was enforced by the U.S. government:

"If I tried to get away with it ... then other people'd get away with it-and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn't like that, would you?"

This idea has been applied to many other situations, including affirmative action and the promotion of the idea that standards will be lowered due to letting unqualified minority students into colleges and jobs before more qualified white students.

However, it is possible that Vonnegut meant this story to be a satirical challenge  to the conservative anxiety over equality and political correctness.

Regardless of the political intentions of the author, the eponymous hero of the story can serve as a guide for all readers today. In a society in which conformity—Instagram selfies, Snapchat filters, even the millennial generation's desire to be nonconformist stinks of conformity—is expected, Harrison makes a point of standing out by taking risks and challenging the status quo. Instead of demanding a political revolution by viewers while he has the attention of the country on him, he instructs a ballerina to dance her best and the musicians to play their best. 

This challenge Harrison throws down is the most timeless aspect of this story. It calls for all people to metaphorically leap as high as possible, "abandon the laws of gravity," and kiss the ceiling.

How does "Harrison Bergeron" relate to current society?

Kurt Vonnegut's story opens with this telling sentence, "The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal."  In this year of 2081, the culture values "equality" so much that people have become so complaisant that they agree to oppressive measures in the name of equality. When, for instance, Hazel suggests that George removes the forty-seven pound handicapbag, he strongly demurs,

"If I tried to get away with it,....then other people'd get away with it--and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else."

In the world of "Harrison Bergeron" being competitive is wrong; mediocrity is acceptable and lauded.  When an announcer on the television is unable to even say "Ladies and gentlemen--" Hazel comments,

"That's all right--...he tried.  That's the big thing.  he tried to do the best he could with what God gave him."

In this twenty-first century, this phrase is echoed repeatedly by parents and teachers alike. Often anyone who wants to be on small town football teams are allowed to be; there are no "try-outs" because these would make those not chosen "feel bad."  In sports, especially with the younger children, everyone on the team gets a trophy, no matter whether he or she never played in any of the games. Students are awarded Certificates of Participation so they feel equal to others. Everyone "tried."

Vonnegut's worries came in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, a movement for equality that had to be enacted by the force of the federal government in some states. With this exertion of Federal force, fears that the federal government would in some way propose schemes that would enforce equality of outcome entered the mind of Vonnegut and many others. Thus, Affirmative Action can be viewed as such a type of forced equality as certain people are given scholarships or extra points on entrance exams for law and medical schools or government jobs, for instance, to even the "playing field." Business firms were give quotas in the 1970s on hiring that they had to comply with, and many municipal employers such as Police and Fire Departments have been compelled by the federal government to hire in compliance with Affirmative Action, even when their town contains no minorities. These departments, then, must recruit from another township so that they can meet federal stipulations or risk discrimination charges.

The Federal Education bill of No Child Left Behind is also a type of forced mediocrity as ultimately children at the higher end are held back in achievement so that others can "catch up."

Ironically, when Federal Communications Commission, Newton Minow, delivered an attack on television five months before ‘‘Harrison Bergeron’’ was published, he called television "a vast wasteland'' of destructive or meaningless programs. The plethora of reality and talk shows underscores this statement about meaningless programs. Many videos and movies are perceived as counter-culture and damaging to ethical values, too.  

How is "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. related to today's society?

Visionary in the creation of his story "Harrison Bergeron," Kurt Vonnegut worried that the desensitizing, numbing, and thought-shifting of media such as television would damage individuals in the future. He symbolizes this numbing of intelligence and superior talents and abilities with the various "handicaps" that the citizens of the futuristic world are forced to wear.

While thought control is not effected with earphones, it is certainly influenced in modern society

• The Media

The media influence thought because the sources of information only report mainly what coincides with conventional wisdom, the political policies of those who control the media. In addition, political correctness is certainly a means of limiting free expression by establishing what is the "right" way to think.

• Educational policies

In the U.S. the No Child Left Behind law dictates that all children must be afforded the opportunity to learn, and even the slowest must master concepts. Since these slower learners are placed in heterogenous groups, the brighter students are held back while the slower ones "catch up."  This method of learning now is metaphorically like Harrison's having to wear earphones that prohibit his higher-level thought.

• The workplace

Reports and magazine articles have been written about "failing upwards" in the working world where often the mediocre are promoted because they meet certain hiring stipulations and requirements, or because they present no threat to bosses, who are themselves mediocre.

What is the central theme of "Harrison Bergeron" and is it still relevant today?

Another important theme is how the average citizen is willing to sacrifice freedom for comfort. In order to maintain perfect order in society, the future United States’ citizenry willingly submits to a system of handicapping to eliminate any competitive advantages an individual might have. This includes beauty, intelligence, strength, and many other physical and mental attributes. Even people like George, Harrison’s father, place their trust in the system; when Hazel suggests he take out some of his weights to get more comfortable, George scoffs about how it is both legally and morally wrong to do so. Despite his numerous debilitating handicaps, George is willing to suffer in service of what he thinks is the greater good—complete complacency for all.

This theme is certainly still relevant to today’s society. The scandal involving the National Securities Administration that Edward Snowden exposed shows that citizens are relatively willing to give up privacy if that means terrorist plots can be thwarted. Another example of how this relates to now is the “outrage culture” that many are accused of perpetuating. This means preventing those with different views from being included in places like college campuses, national television, or even on our social media profiles. The desire to be insulated from anything that challenges one’s perspective is something Vonnegut certainly would have criticized.

What is the central theme of "Harrison Bergeron" and is it still relevant today?

The central theme of the short story "Harrison Bergeron" concerns the issue of total equality and highlights the negatives associated with oppressing talented individuals in order to create a completely equal society. While Vonnegut supports equal opportunities for every American citizen, he satirizes the lengths that society has already gone to in order to accommodate the ignorant masses and enable incompetent individuals. In Vonnegut's dystopian future America, talented, beautiful, and intelligent individuals have been oppressed by the government via the use of cumbersome handicaps. This absurd method of oppressing talented citizens is a cautionary tale of how society can discriminate against innovators and creators who develop and advance our society.

This short story is still relevant today and corresponds to how legislation intended to implement equality of opportunity can sometimes impact talented individuals. In the world of special education, some students diagnosed with certain disabilities, such as ADHD, may be given an advantage over their peers. It's also possible that legislation regarding affirmative action can occasionally prevent the best possible candidate from receiving a job. While Vonnegut does support equal opportunities and a level playing field for all American citizens, the short story can also shed light on the importance of protecting and allowing talented individuals to flourish in society.

What is the central theme of "Harrison Bergeron" and is it still relevant today?

There are several possible themes in "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, but the one that stands out is that complete equality is dangerous.  In Harrison's world, the people are forced to give up their individuality in order to have a peaceful, conflict-free society. Competition has been completely quashed by the government, and "just average" is valued so much that a Handicapper General has been appointed to make sure no one is better than anyone else.  She does this by requiring beautiful people to wear hideous masks and by making athletic people wear heavy bags to weigh them down, etc. This is dangerous because people have no reason to be their best anymore-"best" is looked at disdainfully.  If our society did not value intelligence, talent, and/or athleticism, think of how demeaning that would be to individuals and think about how different our world would be!

"Harrison Bergeron" is still relevant today as a cautionary tale. Most of us believe that equality is important and necessary in our society, and we are willing to give up some of our freedoms in order to keep our citizens safe. For example, after 911, we quickly got used to, and accepted, more stringent checks at airports.  On the other hand, we might not so quickly be willing to have government officials show up at our front doors to check on our recent activities. We need government to govern fairly, but we don't want our individuality taken away in the process. We realize that competition is healthy because it can make us all try harder and be better people.

What is the moral of the story "Harrison Bergeron"?

The moral of Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" is that forced equality--"It was the year of 2018 and everyone was finally equal"--is not truly equality; it is forced mediocrity. For, in order to place everyone upon an level plane, the brillant, the creative, the talented must be suppressed.  Indeed, those superior to others must be brought lower since it is impossible to raise those without capabilities to a higher level.

Hazel, who represents the "equality" level wears no handicaps or other devices, for she cannot be raised from her level of mediocrity.  Rather, it is the super sensitive, highly intelligent, athletic, and handsome Harrison, his brillant father George, and the extremely graceful and beautiful ballerinas who are loaded down with handicaps.  Thus, the suppression of their superior capabilities dumbs down all of society to the level of the banal. 

In addition to this suppression of those who are superior to others and their reduction to mediocrity, there can also be other detrimental effects, such as rebellion as exemplfied in Harrison's character, and the loss of initiative as evidenced in George who becomes afraid to exercise his intelligence, thus accepting his mediocrity,

"If I tried to get away with it,...then other people'd get away with it--and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everbody else."

Clearly, George has lost his initiative and in 2018 beauty, glace, and wisdom have died, shot by the Handicapper General who insists upon mediocrity and the suppression of the individual to the point of murdering people.  Thus, the "equality" of Bergeron's world is no equality at all. Mediocre at best, it verges on the sadistic.

What is the moral of the story "Harrison Bergeron"?

In the story, Harrison is handicapped to make him as "normal" as most other people. This might have been done in the spirit of equality, but it homogenizes an entire community. It is an infringement on human freedom and since the more intelligent individuals are handicapped, this hinders the potential for technological and even social innovations and progress. So, one moral or suggestion that's presented here is that we must question the ways in which we strive for equality. One suggestion is that suppression is not the way to achieve equality. In other words, equality is meaningless if everyone is basically identical. Equality only means something if we are diverse and then treat each other as equals.

The subtext of "Harrison Bergeron" is the extent of this suppression. George and Hazel, Harrison's parents, are pacified by their television. Note that Harrison uses the television to announce his expected Emperor status. Harrison recognizes that television is his best way to communicate. Although his freedom is a liberation, he turns it into an opportunity to become a dictator. The point is that television is used by Diana Moon Glampers and Harrison to advertise their power and ideologies.

Suppression of mental and physical abilities can come in the form of physical/mental restraints. But television and other ubiquitous media sources also wield a large sphere of influence over the public. So, one moral is that the pursuit of equality has meaning only if it is built upon diversity and does not involve suppression. The second moral is more of a comment on the dangerous power that social institutions (television, media) have in conditioning the populace.

This is especially relevant in an age when we are bombarded by media via television, Internet, and mobile phones. This includes the often discussed problem of how we've become desensitized to violence.

George and Hazel were watching television. There were tears on Hazel's cheeks, but she'd forgotten for the moment what they were about.

Such a profound suppression of people's individuality and humanity could be perpetrated by any number of institutions from government to large corporations to social media. The irony is that these institutions can be used for the opposite purpose: to foster freedom and creativity.

Do you think there is a moral to the story, "Harrison Bergeron"? Why or why not?

In this Vonnegut story the moral is that it is wrong to try and make everyone equal. The theme of absolute equality has already appeared two years before "Harrison Bergeron" was published for the first time in Fantasy and Science-Fiction Magazine (1961). It was Vonnegut's novel The Sirens of Titan. However, in this work the theme is only a minor feature and is not really developed.The idea probably intrigued Kurt Vonnegut and forced him to develop it into a short story. Those who are familiar with Kurt Vonnegut's writing will certainly recognize some other themes of this story. For example the fear of de-humanization of human beings, being stuck in amber.

In "Harrison Bergeron", Kurt Vonnegut presented a scary view
of a future society, where everyone was equal. "Nobody was
smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else." (Vonnegut 1988:7). It was the job of the agents of the United States Handicapper General to keep it this way. Beautiful people had to wear ugly masks. People not heavy enough had to wear handicap bags full of lead. Clever people had to wear a radio in their ear tuned to the government transmitter, which sent out sharp noises to keep people from taking advantage of their brains. It was a world where competition was the greatest of sins.

I think that this view can be very easily related to modern
society. People are striving for equality of some kind--equality
of races, sexes etc. People try to eliminate racism, sexism,
lookism, ableism, ageism. Even the word speciesism starts to
appear in modern dictionaries of Politically Correct language.
The society in "Harrison Bergeron" succeeded in eliminating these prejudices--everybody got the same opportunity to do
anything--and the result was fatal.

Do you think there is a moral to the story, "Harrison Bergeron"? Why or why not?

What is more important, the rights of the individual or the rights of society? Harrison Bergeron is a dark story about the potential for the well meaning advocates of equality to destroy the creativity, strength and spirit of a people. Harrison is a gifted being in every sense of the word. In an ideal world, people like Harrison would be encouraged to grow and they would eventually lead the people. Instead, he is thwarted because he might make someone feel bad about their lack of ability. This is a satire--and satires always have a point. They point out the things that exist in our society and show them to be ridiculous. If there is a moral to this story, it is a warning not to take the idea of "equality" to an extreme. The reality is that we are NOT all created equal, never have been, never will be. There will always be differences, and we should value those differences instead of trying to squash them or articifically try to make them disappear.

Do you think there is a moral to the story, "Harrison Bergeron"? Why or why not?

What is more important, the rights of the individual or the rights of society? "Harrison Bergeron" is a dark story about the potential for the well meaning advocates of equality to destroy the creativity, strength and spirit of a people. Harrison is a gifted being in every sense of the word. In an ideal world, people like Harrison would be encouraged to grow and they would eventually lead the people. Instead, he is thwarted because he might make someone feel bad about their lack of ability. This is a satire--and satires always have a point. They point out the things that exist in our society and show them to be ridiculous. If there is a moral to this story, it is a warning not to take the idea of "equality" to an extreme. The reality is that we are NOT all created equal, never have been, never will be. There will always be differences, and we should value those differences instead of trying to squash them or articifically try to make them disappear.

What are the themes of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Harrison Bergeron"?

"Harrison Bergeron" is a satirical look into the potential dangers of our society's desire for equality. Ultimately, Vonnegut is posing that, at a certain point, egalitarianism risks turning into a cult of mediocrity, with any expressions of personal excellence dragged down by force to the common level. In this story, equality is ensured by the use of handicaps. What results from this practice is an absurd mockery of a society.

The character of Harrison Bergeron himself reflects Vonnegut's satirical edge. He is painted as an almost ludicrous figure: only fourteen years old, super-intelligent, super-athletic, and super-strong. This is a story where all qualities are pushed toward the point of absurdity, both in individual excellence (as exemplified by the dancers) as well as in the collective pressure to conform (which is exemplified by the society that surrounds them). Yet the dance ends abruptly through a chilling display of force, with the dancers gunned down and the orchestra forced to re-handicap themselves. This act of violence is all the more chilling when contrasted against the dreamlike distortion of the scene which preceded it.

"Harrison Bergeron" is a story that relies on exaggeration, but there are very real warnings and concerns at its core. This is a story about the dangers of conformity, posing a warning about what nightmares we might create should we overreach ourselves in our desire for equality, especially when that equality is backed up by the use of coercion and force.

What are the themes of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Harrison Bergeron"?

The main theme of the short story "Harrison Bergeron" concerns equality. In Vonnegut's future America, every individual is equal in every aspect. Americans who are more beautiful, intelligent, and physically gifted are forced to wear cumbersome handicaps and devices that restrict, hide, and impede their movements and mental faculties. Diana Moon Glampers is the Handicapper General and is in charge of enforcing total equality. Like other authority figures, Diana Moon Glampers fears talented individuals and makes it her life's mission to make everyone equal. She eventually kills Harrison Bergeron after he escapes from prison and attempts to usurp power. Vonnegut's future society serves as a warning to the dangers of "total equality," or at least this definition of it.

The themes of individuality and independence are also examined throughout the short story by the protagonist Harrison Bergeron. Harrison is a massive athletic genius, who is forced to wear cumbersome weights and handicaps that impair his physical mobility. He also is forced to wear massive headphones that continually interrupt his thinking process. Despite being imprisoned for attempting to overthrow the government, Harrison escapes from jail and takes over a news station, where he insists that he is the Emperor and attempts to usurp power. Harrison is an independent person, who does not passively allow the government to infringe upon his rights. Although he is unsuccessful, Harrison challenges the oppressive government by using his talents to escape prison and sending a powerful message to the viewers at home watching television.

What are the themes of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Harrison Bergeron"?

The main theme in "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is equality, but it is not the kind of equality which people generally desire. Vonnegut's short story is a warning that complete equality creates many problems and can even bring with it danger. When everyone is completely equal in "Harrison Bergeron," individuals are basically tortured for being better than anyone at anything. The intelligent wear mental handicaps, the athletic wear physical handicaps, the beautiful wear hideous masks to hid their beauty. In Vonnegut's story, everyone is fearful and nobody (except Harrison) can think for him/herself any longer.

Along with the theme of equality, there is the theme of total conformity. The government runs lives. The government can murder citizens who are so gifted their handicaps do nothing, like Harrison. The people are completely brainwashed to believe the government can do no wrong.

Third is the theme of power through media. The television is constantly running. Again, this is a warning that sitting in front of a TV all day is mind numbing. It acts as a drug for the people, and it is used to keep the people in check. Harrison's murder is broadcast, so that nobody else will think of doing the same. "Look what happens if you do not do exactly what you are supposed to do!  Bam!" 

What are common themes in "Harrison Bergeron" and "The Fifth Child"?

The major theme that we can use to link these two stories together is actually the way in which striving for happiness or for a better world can so often turn out to bring more sadness and pain into our lives than we had at first. Often, the solution makes the problem even more profound, and both of these short stories attempt to show that through the action that occurs.

In "Harrison Bergeron," it is absolutely clear that in their attempts to create a world in which nobody feels stupid or unskillful, the likes of Diana Moon Glampers haver actually created a nightmare dystopia that goes to absurd lengths to achieve true equality. This is shown through the various hindrances or restrictions that characters legally have to wear, such as the earpiece that distracts Harrison's father every few seconds because of his superior intelligence. Vonnegut has taken a good principle, equality, but then taken it to his extreme to such an extent that he has created a dystopia.

In the same way, in "The Fifth Child," the Lovatts seem to be the perfect Christian family. They have their four children, and seem to have attained the happiness that they have always dreamed of having. However, when they continue to have children, everything changes with the arrival of Ben. They are forced to accept that they have brought an anti-Christ figure into the world that destroys their happiness and brings darkness and depression into their lives. Implicitly, this story suggests that seeking happiness too much or too earnestly can actually ensure we receive the reverse.

What societal tendencies is Vonnegut satirizing in "Harrison Bergeron" and what is its theme?

Kurt Vonnegut begins "Harrison Bergeron" by remarking that in the year 2081, everyone was finally equal:

They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.

The satire here is directed not at equality, but at a misunderstanding and misapplication of the concept. There are two ways in which Vonnegut thinks many of his contemporaries misunderstand equality. The first mistake is suggested in the initial sentence of the quotation above. To say that people should all be treated equally under the law is very different from asserting that they are all the same. Some people are more intelligent; some are more beautiful; others can run faster. Equality before the law simply means that these differences do not matter when assessing legal responsibility. The second mistake is to confuse equality of opportunity with equality of outcome. In "Harrison Bergeron," these two mistakes have ensured that the lowest common denominator prevails in every area of life.

The positive message of the story is clear from the brief moment of sublimity when Harrison dances with the ballerina:

It became their obvious intention to kiss the ceiling. They kissed it. And then, neutralizing gravity with love and pure will, they remained suspended in air inches below the ceiling, and they kissed each other for a long, long time.

Though Harrison may seem somewhat brusque in his methods, he creates beauty in a world where stifling mediocrity has been universally enforced. The story argues for the power of art and individuality and against the tyranny of conformity. This argument also provides the story's central theme.

What is Kurt Vonnegut satirizing in the short story "Harrison Bergeron"?

"Harrison Bergeron" is open to interpretation as to the aim of its satire. Some believe it to be a straightforward dystopian story, with the individual oppressed and eventually crushed by the collective. Others believe it to be a satire on exactly that sort of story, with a ludicrously overpowered hero and an equally ludicrous dystopian government. In either case, most of the satire is aimed directly at government, with politicians taking egalitarianism to incredible extremes, and forcing "equality" on everyone through lowering standards.

"If I tried to get away with it," said George, "then other people'd get away with it -- and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn't like that, would you?"

"I'd hate it," said Hazel.

"There you are," said George. The minute people start cheating on laws, what do you think happens to society?"
(Vonnegut, "Harrison Bergeron," tnellen.com)

Of course, "cheating on laws" usually refers to cheating and breaking rational laws, not the insane laws of the story. The government here believes that it can erase jealousy, envy, shame, and resentment through elimination of exceptionalism -- similar themes are seen in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. However, the actual result is stagnation of culture and society, as nobody can have new ideas. Essentially, the story is a satire on freedom (individualism) versus enslavement (collectivism), although the actual satire is up for grabs.

In "Harrison Bergeron," what tendencies in present day American Society is Vonnegut satirizing?

When Vonnegut wrote "Harrison Bergeron" in 1961, he was satirizing the 1950s and its emphasis on conformity, but the story remains relevant today. We still live in a society that would rather "dumb things down" to a norm than challenge people to think harder or reward excellence.

For example, intellectual ability is still dismissed as unimportant in this country. A presidential candidate, for example, has to eat fries at a diner to show he is "real," as if this kind of ability to relate to the average Joe is more important to being electable than demonstrating experience and competence.

As they enter adolescence, young people often hide their abilities and talents in order to fit into the group. They may not wear a device that sends a ringing noise into their heads every few seconds, but they might impair their brains with drugs and alcohol.

Groupthink often becomes as much of a leveler as wearing lead weights. People in this country will sometimes hold to beliefs that the scientific community says cannot possibly be true because the in-group has decided they are true, regardless of the facts. In some cases, such as the group that thought the Hale Bopp comet was coming to take them to a new planet, mass suicide can be the result.

In "Harrison Bergeron," what tendencies in present day American Society is Vonnegut satirizing?

Vonnegut is satirizing the tendencies in our society to put being politically correct above all else and to cushion and protect anyone's feelings by trying to make it seem like everyone is really, really awesome, and no one is more awesome than anyone else. Like in Vonnegut's story, more and more, the government is stepping in to take measures to keep people from failing and thus feeling sad and inferior. Our society is increasingly taking steps to regulate and control the things that make people unequal, fail, and feel inferior.

If you think about it for a bit, there are a lot of examples that come to mind of how this is played out in our society. For example, think of sporting events or competitions. Where there used to be just first place, now there are up to 8th places or more, and then all sorts of awards are given out for "most improved," "best team spirit," etc. We are afraid that someone who didn't win will be sad, so we give them some other reward to make them happy. Vonnegut just takes this concept a step further by removing all those things in others that make us envious and sad.

Another example that comes to mind is the push in education to assimilate all of the classes into one; all honors classes are to be mixed with the regular classes and the resource classes because the resource kids expressed hurt feelings at being put into the "lower" classes. This is an attempt to cater to the feelings of the resource kids so that they don't feel ostracized and less smart than their other peers. There is example after example of situations like this where, in order to not offend people or to make them feel bad about themselves and their situations, we actually limit the progress of other people to accomplish equality and perfect happiness. Vonnegut has taken that concept to the extreme to make a point, which is that everyone isn't all the same, and a society that tries to force us to be so could potentially have some serious issues.

What tendencies in the present day is Vonnegut satirizing?

"Harrison Bergeron" was published in 1961, but many of the concerns Vonnegut was addressing at that time are still present today.

Most prominently, Vonnegut is satirizing the discriminatory attitudes of a society that says it is bringing all people to equality. In the story, set in 2081 and governed by the "211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution" as enforced by the Handicapper General and her agents, differences between people are masked by handicapping devices. In today's society, many if not most people would claim that all individuals are treated equally - unless a person has too many tattoos or piercings, or the hair is too long, or the name and appearance are too Arabic in origin, or ...

Vonnegut is also satirizing the impact of the mass media. George and Hazel seem to get all their information about their world from their television, although they don't remember any of it for very long. Vonnegut would probably not be pleased with the proliferation of news channels on television and websites on the internet, each offering one interpretation of events that many people accept as completely accurate without further research or validation.

In "Harrison Bergeron," what are Kurt Vonnegut's satirical targets?

The science-fiction short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut is set in the year 2081. To discern what Vonnegut's satirical targets are, read the story carefully and note where he uses absurdities and exaggerations to make his point.

According to the story, after the passing of certain Constitutional amendments, strict equality is enforced by law. The United States Handicapper General and her agents monitor citizens closely to ensure that the laws dictating equality are enforced. Harrison's father George, for instance, has above-normal intelligence, so the government has demanded that he should wear earphones that let loose loud noises to prevent him from formulating complex thoughts. He also wears a 47-pound canvas bag of bird shot around his neck to limit his strength. George's wife Hazel doesn't need handicaps because she is already of average intelligence and strength. The ballerinas that George and his wife watch on TV are similarly handicapped with weights, and they also have to wear horrific masks so that they will not appear overly beautiful.

Harrison Bergeron is an anomaly in that he is tall, strong, handsome, and highly intelligent. The government kidnaps him and places formidable handicaps on him, but he manages to escape. He instigates a rebellion on live TV before he is ruthlessly shot by the Handicapper General.

Satire in literature is a technique in which writers use exaggeration, ridicule, and humor to focus on the shortcomings of individuals or societies. In "Harrison Bergeron," Vonnegut's satire targets the overemphasis on legislating equality in democracies such as the United States. Although we of course want everyone to have equal opportunities in life, sometimes legislation undertaken to achieve this ignores that individuals have unique skills and talents, and these skills and talents are what enable people to achieve excellence in intellectual and athletic endeavors. If you take away individual skills and talents by force of law, you deprive the world of diversity and growth, and all that is left is mediocrity.

How does "Harrison Bergeron" convey the conflict between societal ideals and individual realities?

In "Harrison Bergeron," Vonnegut uses dark humor to show the contrast between the "ideal" of social equality and the real needs of individuals.

To step back and provide a framework, humor relies on exaggeration and overstatement--the more over-the-top or outrageous a situation, the more we are likely to start laughing.

Vonnegut maximizes over-the-top elements in this story of a future dystopian world in which everyone must be equal, regardless of the personal cost. If you have good looks, you must wear a mask. If you are a talented dancer, you must wear weights. If you are intelligent, loud whistles and noises must go off in your mind to disrupt your ability to think.

This burdening of people with devices to make them handicapped so that "equality" can be achieved illustrates in absurd form the problem of valuing social conformity over individualism. The story makes a strong argument that allowing people to develop and showcase their gifts benefits all of society, not just the individuals themselves. When Harrison and the ballerina break free briefly on television and reveal they can soar, they share a powerful moment with others--before they are shot and killed.

Vonnegut uses humor and absurdity to illustrate that societies must make too for individual flourishing.

How does "Harrison Bergeron" convey the conflict between societal ideals and individual realities?

In Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron," there is a contrast between society's needs and the individual's reality. This is the central conflict in the story. In this story, equality at any cost is the goal of society. everyone must be equal and if they have to wear handicaps to do so, then they must. For the society as a whole, the ideal of equality is appealing and deemed fair and right. So the fast are slowed down with weights, the beautiful are covered with masks, etc. In theory, for this society, the idea is just. However, in reality, individuals suffer by being forced to be equal, and this is Vonnegut's message. The individual's reality of beauty or talent being hidden for the greater good of society is frustrating and miserable. Harrison, as an example, wishes to and eventually does break free of his handicaps to have a moment of individual, self-expression that is separate from society. The results are disastrous, which is to show readers how often the needs of society and the reality of the individual are often in conflict.

In the story "Harrison Bergon," how does Harrison convey the conflict between the ideals of society and the realities of the actual people?

The ideals of society in Vonnegut's future America focus on establishing a uniform society, where every citizen is completely equal in all facets of life. The 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution require that every citizen is completely equal, which is accomplished by handicapping highly-talented, intelligent, and athletic people by making them wear cumbersome weights and loud devices that block their thoughts. The conflict between the ideals of society and the realities of the citizens involves the oppressive nature of the handicaps and the harsh punishments talented individuals endure on an everyday basis. In order for America's society to be completely equal, many talented, intelligent, beautiful people must suffer. Citizens like Harrison Bergeron are imprisoned at young ages and his father struggles to remember his own child due to the handicap device that blocks his thoughts. Overall, Vonnegut illustrates how pushing for a completely equal society negatively impacts and punishes skilled individuals.

In the story "Harrison Bergon," how does Harrison convey the conflict between the ideals of society and the realities of the actual people?

The defining characteristic in the society of "Harrison Bergeron" is physical equality, in intelligence, strength, and beauty. Three constitutional amendments and Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, ensure that people are made artificially equal through the use of handicaps. Intelligent people like George have aural devices that send loud noises into their ears to disrupt their thoughts. Strong people have to wear bags of bird shot, small metal balls, and beautiful people have to wear masks.

The conflict arises with the fact that people are not naturally equal, but that does not make others feel bad. Vonnegut alludes to this idea when George wonders "that maybe the dancers shouldn't be handicapped." This musing suggests that George would enjoy watching the dancers moving gracefully, even though they would be better at dancing than he is.

The stern penalties also suggest that the reality of the people does not align with the quest for equality. When Hazel suggests that George take out a few of the metal balls, he reminds her that the penalty is "two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball [he] took out." In the end, the killing of Harrison and his Empress underscores this tension. Their only crimes include being strong and beautiful, but they are shot dead by Diana Moon Glampers. Any law that must be upheld with such force must be contrary to the inner desire of the public.

What are possible themes in the story "Harrison Bergeron"?

Kurt Vonnegut's futuristic society demonstrates the dangers of striving to make an uniform society. Satirically Vonnegut begins: "The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal." However, in this society's  efforts to "level the playing field" for everyone, individual civil rights are sacrificed.

Equality comes at a price 

A major theme in "Harrison Bergeron," equality is only attained by valuing mediocrity since those with little ability can not elevate themselves; so, the bright and talented, the beautiful and the creative are suppressed by means of handicaps that limit them to the level of the "average." For example, George Bergeron must wear ear radios that send hideous noises to drown out his higher thoughts. His wife Hazel wears no handicaps as she is naturally rather simple-minded.

But, by making everyone "equal," innovations, inventions, and creative beauty are destroyed, and the society becomes stagnant because ingenuity is not permitted. Indeed, it is the maverick, the creative daredevil, the one willing and eager to take risks that brings growth and invention and progression to a society. Therefore, when no one gets "left behind," everyone suffers because intellectual leadership is repressed because mediocrity must be enforced.

Diana Moon Glampers is the Handicapper General who enforces equality even to the point of violence. Her loaded shotgun is symbolic of the abnegation of truth, beauty, grace, and wisdom. For, when Harrison breaks out of prison and destroys his handicaps, he and a beautiful ballerina leap "in an explosion of joy and grace," but Diana Moon Glampers loads her shotgun and orders the musicians to replace their handicaps. Then, the Handicapper General shoots the rebels, sacrificing the individuals for the sake of equality. "There was the sound of riveting gun in his [George's] head" is all that the father knows of what has happened to his son, while Hazel only realizes that "something sad" has happened.

Ignorance as a Norm

In the effort to make everyone intellectually equal, the intelligent are made to wear handicaps and those without become the average. Hazel Bergeron wears no handicaps, but she is simple-minded and can remember nothing. When the television announcer cannot even enunciate well enough to read an announcement, Hazel says, 

"That's all right--...he tried.  That's the big thing. He tried to do the best he could with what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard."

Thus, the mediocre are praised and the intelligent are punished. (It is interesting that Hazel's words written in 1968 are now familiar as many excuse themselves with "I tried." )

What are the choices and consequences in "Harrison Bergeron"?

In a society in which "everyone is finally equal," the intellectual and physical prowess of individuals has been enervated by handicapping. Those who choose to not comply by wearing their handicaps are fined and incarcerated.

People who are superior in intelligence are made to wear headgear that sends shocks and noises into the ears and mind, destroying any thoughts that are higher than average. If a person is athletically superior, weights are worn to burden the individual down to average. George Bergeron exemplifies the repression of a superior person as he is wears forty-seven pounds of bird shot in a bag that hangs from his neck and headgear that has a siren go off in his ears whenever he has a superior thought. When his wife Hazel suggests that he ease his discomfort by temporarily removing some of the bird shot, George objects,

"Two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball I take out."

Similarly, if one is beautiful, then a mask must be worn over the face, apologies made for a beautiful voice. 

United States Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers monitors the people for compliance to the rules in the police state in which the Bergerons live. When Harrison breaks out of jail and attempts to take over the television station, which is symbolic of the desensitizing and control of people's minds, Miss Glampers fires a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun at Harrison, who declares himself emperor, and at the beautiful ballerina empress, killing them both. 

Clearly, here Vonnegut satirizes the desensitizing of people's minds through the medium of television as well as the numbing of thought that this medium induces. For, after having witnessed this shooting of her son, the simple-minded Hazel Bergeron cries, but, when her husband returns from the kitchen and asks her why she is crying, Hazel replies, "I forgot....Something real sad on television."  

What is the theme of "Harrison Bergeron" and how are the characters relevant?

Harrison Bergeron has many meanings or themes throughout. Freedom is one theme that is seen often and in different lights in the story. First, there is no freedom for the characters in the story. There is no freedom of expression as we see through the ballerinas who are terrible to watch, there is no freedom to be an individual because of the equalizing forced handicaps everyone in the society must adorn all the time. Harrison's parents illustrate their own handicaps as they sit at home one evening. His father has sounds ringing in his ears and a heavy bag of bird-shot around his neck. Harrison shows us freedom through his attempted escape from his handicaps, which were abundant because he was such a physically and mentally phenomenal human being in this society.

To see more about themes in the story and the characters that represent them see the eNotes link below.

What is the theme of "Harrison Bergeron" and how are the characters relevant?

I assume by meaning that you want the main theme of the story. I would say that Vonnegut, the author, is showing us what happens in a society where competition is no longer allowed because the government has decided what is "normal" and what isn't. Anyone who is considered to be above normal, like Harrison and his father, is handicapped. No one who is less than normal should ever feel bad about him/herself. Society has become one of mediocrity, keeping everyone as close to the same both physically and mentally. Hazel, Harrison's mother, illustrates those in society who are below average, and she doesn't have to wear any handicaps. Harrison is, of course, the superman of society, both physically and mentally. He cannot be allowed to live once he tries to overthrow the government's control.

Vonnegut also shows the effect of the broadcast media on society. The Handicapper General uses radio signals to punish those who think the wrong thoughts or say the wrong things. He depicts television as having a numbing effect on people, to the point that they are desensitized by what they see. Hazel can't even remember that her son has been killed right in front of her.

For more examples, go to the link below.

What is the theme of "Harrison Bergeron" and how are the characters relevant?

There are several possible themes, but Kurt Vonnegut tends to focus on the possibility of equality being enforced by the government, to the detriment of everyone.  So, in one word, equality is the theme, but in more detail, important questions about whether sacrificing happiness, independence, freedom and personal achievement at the cost of "equality" is worth it.  Vonnegut definitely asserts that it is not, and implies that forcing everyone to be the same is, first of all, impossible, and in addition, dangerous, unhealthy and inhumane.  No matter what measures you take to force people to be the same, people will always be unhappy, just in a different way.

This theme of equality can be seen in small ways in our society today, where being nice and giving warm fuzzies are often given more importance than encouraging achievement and individual success.  We can learn valuable lessons from Vonnegut's dystopian predictions that can be applied in our own lives today. I hope that those thoughts helped; good luck!

What are some essay questions for "Harrison Bergeron"?

A good place to start when trying to come up with essay questions for a text is to think about the themes and the characters in this text and use one of those to base your question on. For this excellent short story, the key theme is that of equality and how human freedom has been curtailed in order to achieve true equality in society. Therefore, if you wanted to focus on this theme, an excellent essay question to select might be:

"Harrison Bergeron" shows the dangers of equality.

This would allow you to discuss how equality is presented in relation to human freedom as it is presented in the text.

If you wanted to focus on a character, the obvious character to examine would be that of Harrison Bergeron himself and how he is so dangerous to society. A good essay question would be:

Why is Harrison Bergeon so dangerous to his own society?

Lastly, if you want a really interesting essay question that will get you thinking, you might like to think about Harrison's protest and how it ended. A good question would be:

Given the ease with which Harrison was executed, what was the value of his protest and why did he behave as he did?

Here are three questions for you to pick from. I hope you find one of these questions useful. I have included some links below to the enotes study section guide on this short story that will help you analyse it further. Good luck!

In "Harrison Bergeron," how do Harrison's feelings towards society develop the theme?

In Vonnegut's short story, Harrison Bergeron is an extremely athletic and intelligent American citizen, who escapes from prison and attempts to overthrow the government. Harrison's talents and abilities are repressed by certain laws, which state that each citizen must be equal in every sense of the word. These laws are enforced by the agents of the United States Handicapper General, who have ladened Harrison with the heaviest handicaps ever assembled on a citizen, including a massive set of earphones and thick spectacles. Harrison no doubt resents these handicaps to the point that he escapes from prison and takes over a television studio to issue his statement. Harrison immediately declares himself the Emperor and says, 

"I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!" (Vonnegut, 4).

Harrison then quickly removes his handicaps, grabs a ballerina, and leaps thirty feet in the air to kiss the ballerina before Diana Moon Glampers kills him.

Vonnegut's theme of equality versus individuality is expressed through Harrison's actions and comments. Harrison, who is much more talented than the other citizens, resents his oppressive handicaps. In Vonnegut's fictional society, the concept of equality has been taken too far, to the point that it has become oppressive. Harrison's attitude reveals how the concept of equality adversely affects those who overachieve and are naturally more talented than those around them. Harrison's character could represent individuality in a society obsessed with equality and sameness. Harrison responds to the oppressive regime by attempting to usurp power. Vonnegut once again illustrates how suppressing one's abilities in the name of equality can cause dissent and resentment in the population.

In "Harrison Bergeron," how do Harrison's feelings towards society develop the theme?

In Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron,” the title character is a foil to Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General whom Harrison attempts to overthrow. The two are polar opposites, and their conflict leads to Harrison’s death, the story’s climax. Harrison’s feelings toward society help develop the story’s theme of equality by showing the perspective of someone who would do away with the concept of equality altogether.

“I am the Emperor!” Harrison proclaims to the world when he takes over the television studio. “Everyone must do what I say at once!” Harrison, just as much as Diana, is an authoritarian. If Harrison’s coup had succeeded, all Harrison would have needed to do to pass laws is say them aloud.

Though the government Diana represents is morally no better than Harrison, it is based in the founding ideals of the United States. Besides the aspiring emperor, Harrison, America has no king and still works under the same basic structure as in the real world. The American government has simply taken its democratic ideals to an absurd, oppressive conclusion.

In summary, Harrison’s views show readers that authoritarian regimes can come from any political system. Time can corrupt the ideals we hold dear. People or groups who wish to ‘save’ us from the current government are sometimes no better.