Themes of Harrison Bergeron

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s ‘Harrison Bergeron’ is about a dystopic totalitarian government where total equality does not exist. Set in a future world, the short story highlights a government that forces people to act differently and makes them hide their special attributes. Despite being a short story, there are many themes of Harrison Bergeron.

The story digs deep into a society and people who are forced to dumb themselves and follow what the government asks them to do. While some of them follow the instructions to achieve internal government goals, others are afraid of being punished if they act differently.

Here, we will dive deep into the world of Harrison Bergeron and analyze the various themes in Harrison Bergeron.

Harrison Bergeron Themes: A Detailed Analysis

Equality vs individualism

The story revolves around a government that defines equality differently. They apply mental and physical handicaps to people with above-average strength and intelligence to ensure everyone is equal.

One of the most crucial aspects of society is equality, but the way the writer portrays it, is very different. The society in the story demands a proper understanding of the balance between equality, freedom and individualism.

Total equality and the adverse effects of the same on a society happens to be one of the crucial Harrison Bergeron themes. The character of Handicapper General ensures that all above-average people are handicapped and are not allowed to explore their strengths to the fullest. Harrison Bergeron, an exceptionally skilled and intelligent athlete, is forced to wear weights and a mask that blocks his vision and hearing and restricts him from showing his skills on the field.

Individuality and creativity

The story highlights the importance of individuality and creativity. As mentioned earlier, the government forces individuals who are more skilled and intelligent than others to be the same as others. Being suppressed by the government, individuals fail to explore their strengths and are unable to succeed in their fields.

The theme has a lot of relevance in the present world as individuality and creativity can make the society a better place, and restricting individuals from reaching their full potential obstructs the growth and development of a society.

The major companies that are profitable and have raced past their competitors rely on their employees and let them explore their skills and value their ideas. It is the best way to grow and is a crucial aspect for all. The short story gives out a message loud and clear that obstructing growth will have a negative impact on the society.

The danger of totalitarian government

The role of government in society is crucial, and that is something everyone feels in the present world as well. The story of Harrison Bergeron portrays an authoritarian government that forces individuals to act as they want. The Handicapper General is the face of the government that does not give space to individuals with skills to explore their full potential.

In the present world, people feel that the government plays a pivotal role in ensuring a fair and equal society. However, a few people feel the government's role should be restricted, and individuals must have the freedom to explore their interests and passion for making society a better place.

There are debates across the globe about the role of the government. The totalitarian government in ‘Harrison Bergeron’ shows all the adverse effects of such authorities in society. It is necessary to understand how the writer uses the theme and analyze how such rules and regulations can affect society. Presently, there are concerns about how governments must work, and it is necessary to take action before facing the same thing as the story reflects.

The power of television

Television plays a crucial role in the story, ‘Harrison Bergeron’. Media has a great influence on the common people, and the writer used the same properly. In the story, television is used as a medium that sedates, rules and terrorizes all the characters in the story. In fact, the writer narrates the entire story with two characters, George and Hazel, sitting in front of the TV.

The government has also used television to convey their messages and enforce new laws. The present world is also highly dependent on television and all sorts of media. There are instances where people share their opinions based on things shown on television.

It would be foolish to ignore the importance of television in shaping people's opinions, and the story shows exactly how governments use television to convey their messages. As the story is set in a future world, there are chances that television will continue to play a pivotal role if people don't take action now.

The significance of fighting for individual rights and freedom

The story emphasizes the significance of standing up and fighting for one's own rights and freedom. A totalitarian government restricts individuals from reaching their full potential, and it is the duty of the common people to stand up and fight against the government.

Being one of the crucial themes of Harrison Bergeron, the story shows how the protagonist Harrison Bergeron stands up against the government.

People are now concerned about their individual rights with respect to social and economic equality. The government imposes a lot of laws that restrict them from pursuing their interests and goals. There are debates among people who believe that individual rights and freedom play a crucial role in maintaining equality in society.

The story sheds light on the fact that common people must stand up against the rules of governments and fight for their rights to achieve their goals. So, if you read the story 'Harrison Bergeron', you will understand how the central idea of Harrison Bergeron is about a fight against the government for individual rights.

The power of Arts

While the government tried everything to suppress the civilians, Harrison Bergeron took up the task of revolting against the government. In the story, the government is aware of a revolt and is expecting a coup, but Harrison uses art to start the protest against the government. He dances on national TV with an orchestra that he has also un-handicapped.

The art form and the way he uses it clearly reflect his revolt against forced equality and highlight how an art form can be used as a weapon of protest.

It is one of the significant parts of the entire story and explores how art can be used to stage a peaceful protest. In the story, Harrison fails to complete the performance as he is killed by the state. But the fact that he raised his voice portrays the power of common people and how they can stand up for their rights.

The story shows a lot of things that are happening in the present world and how people need to rise up and stage a revolt to get their rights.

Endnote:

‘Harrison Bergeron' is a story that explores some of the critical aspects of society and how things need to be addressed. The story also highlights how keeping quiet can be detrimental to individuals and how people need to stand up against the authorities for a better future. Being set in a future world, the story is a warning to all those who are taking things for granted and are not taking any actions. Once you read the story, you will understand how each of the themes is crucial in the world.