Harrison Bergeron: Summary, Setting & Symbolism

When the rich keep getting richer, and the poor continue to struggle every day, it seems as if a world where everyone is equal would be the best solution to overcome inequality. In the satirical dystopian story Harrison Bergeron, published in 1961, American author Kurt Vonnegut created a utopian society where everyone is equal.

In the dystopian future, people with above-average strength, beauty, intelligence, and other qualities are compelled to don a handicap to make them “equal.” But such a society is far from being perfect. And that’s what Vonnegut tries to warn the reader about in his satirical short story.

Harrison Bergeron: A Brief Summary

The story of Harrison Bergeron takes place in the year 2081, where Constitutional Amendments 211, 212, and 213 finally led society to reach perfect "equality." No one is more intelligent, more beautiful, or stronger than the other. Everyone is equal, and those who are born with above-average qualities are forced to wear a handicap. The government has employed the Handicapper General Diana Moon Glampers and some agents to ensure this equality is enforced properly in society.

One day in April, Harrison Bergeron, the fourteen-year-old son of George and Hazel Bergeron, is taken away by the government because his high intelligence and superior physique pose a threat to a society where everyone is equal.

Harrison's parents sit in front of the television, watching some ballerinas perform, and they are unable to fully comprehend the tragedy that has befallen them. Hazel, who possesses average intelligence, has tears flowing down her cheek, but she can’t remember the reason for crying.

On the other hand, her husband, George Bergeron, is naturally more intelligent and athletic. As a result, he is forced to wear a transmitter and carry around 47 pounds of birdshot by the government. The transmitter broadcasts a screeching noise every twenty seconds to interrupt George’s thoughts and prevent him from thinking too deeply about anything. And the weight that he has to carry around on his neck is meant to curb his natural athleticism.

As they watch the ballerinas, Hazel comments that they look quite pretty. But George can’t help but think they all look average. The ballerinas also have handicaps – sashweights, bags of birdshot, and masks – that prevent them from showcasing their individual qualities. The moment George thinks that perhaps ballerinas shouldn't have handicaps, his thought is interrupted by the radio transmitter. He notices two ballerinas flinch on screen and realizes they, too, have the transmitters to curb their intelligence.

Seeing her husband tired because of the weight around his neck, Hazel suggests he should make a hole at the bottom and take out a few weights. Her suggestion is borderline rebellious, but because she is of average intelligence, there’s no hidden agenda behind her words. But George refuses because he firmly believes in the system.

As George and Hazel watch the ballerinas, an emergency broadcast interrupts the show. A TV announcer with a speech impediment tries to read the bulletin but fails because of his handicap. A ballerina takes up the role and begins reading in her natural voice, only to apologize once she realizes her beautiful voice might cause envy in people. So she modifies her voice into a “squawk” and announces that Harrison has escaped from jail.

The television shows a photo of Harrison wearing his handicaps. He has 300 pounds of weight weighing down his seven-foot frame, has huge earphones instead of a small radio to curb his intelligence, big glasses to blind him, and a red rubber nose, shaved eyebrows, and a black cap over his teeth to diminish his looks.

Then, Harrison enters the stage himself and takes off his handicaps. Declaring himself the emperor of the word, he invites a woman to join him and become empress. One of the ballerinas volunteers, and Harrison removes her handicaps to reveal a beautiful woman.

Harrison and the dancer float to the ceiling, defying gravity, where they share a long kiss. But right at that moment, the Handicapper General arrives and shoots them down. The television turns black. George, who had gone to the kitchen to grab a beer, returns to find his wife crying while looking at the television.

Not realizing that he missed his son's execution on live television, George asks his wife why she was crying. But Hazel has already forgotten the cause of her grief.

Setting in Harrison Bergeron

The story of Harrison Bergeron takes place in America in the year 2081. In the dystopian future, the government has taken complete control in creating a society where everyone is equal. If a person is born with above-average looks, intelligence, or strength, they are compelled to wear a handicap (a mask, a radio transmitter, or heavy weights) so that they don't have an unfair advantage over others.

Characters in Harrison Bergeron

The main characters in the story Harrison Bergeron are –

1. George Bergeron

George Bergeron, Harrison's father, is someone who possesses above-average strength and intelligence and is forced by the government to wear handicaps. He must constantly wear a radio that transmits a noise every twenty seconds to hamper his ability to think deeply. He must also wear 47 pounds of birdshots around his neck to weigh him down.

However, despite his intelligence and strength, he is mentally passive. When his wife suggests he take off some weight to reduce his burden, he refuses the idea because he believes that the government's decision to create an equal society is correct. Through the character of George Bergeron, Vonnegut questions people’s passivity for government rules. Even though George is unhappy with his life, he doesn’t have the will to rebel against the government.

2. Hazel Bergeron

Hazel Bergeron, the mother of Harrison Bergeron, is a woman of average intelligence and looks. Unlike her husband, she doesn’t have to wear a radio transmitter because she does not possess enough intelligence. And she doesn't have to wear a mask, unlike the beautiful ballerinas, because she is not as pretty. Her below-average qualities make her appreciate the ballerinas and the TV announcer with a speech impediment.

Even though Hazel is dim-witted, she is very kind. Seeing her husband struggle with the weight around his neck, she suggests he take off some weight, not realizing that this would mean rebelling against the government. But Hazel’s kindness does not make up for her stupidity since she cannot comprehend the absurdness of the society where she cannot even remember her son’s murder for more than a few seconds.

3. Harrison Bergeron

Harrison Bergeron is the main protagonist of the short story. He represents the Americans who still strive for individualism in a society forced by the government to conform to the “average.” Even though Harrison is only fourteen years old, he is seven feet tall, extremely handsome, and has high intelligence. The government forces Harrison to wear headphones instead of a radio, a red rubber nose, black caps on his teeth, and carry three hundred pounds of metal. He is also forced to shave his eyebrows.

However, Harrison doesn’t let these handicaps stop him from revolting against the government's ideals. While he is certainly intelligent, handsome, and strong, none of these qualities are as important as his bravery. He rips off the handicaps and proclaims himself the emperor. But he is eventually murdered by the government for disrupting society.

His death allows the government to show that anyone who rises up in revolt will meet the same end.

Symbolism in Harrison Bergeron

Kurt Vonnegut’s masterful use of symbolism in Harrison Bergeron highlights his skills as a writer. In the story, three distinct symbols stand out –

1. Harrison Bergeron

The protagonist of the play, Harrison Bergeron himself, is the symbol of freedom, defiance, and individualism in American society. Despite being fourteen years old, he is extremely handsome, intelligent, and strong. Unlike other people in society who have passively accepted the handicaps enforced on them by the government, Harrison openly rebels against conformism.

During the live broadcast, Harrison breaks away from his handicaps and announces himself as the emperor. His boastfulness is a breath of fresh air and symbolizes the defiance that remains dormant within the hearts of the American people.

Harrison knows the dangers of defying the government so openly, yet he is brave enough to stand his ground and not let the government dampen his individualism. In stark contrast is his father, George Bergeron, who is fearful of repercussions and dismisses his wife’s suggestion to reduce the load of the handicap around his neck.

However, in the end, Diana Moon Glampers murders Harrison in cold blood, highlighting that such defiance and rebellious attitude is short-lived and has no place in a society where everyone is equal.

2. The television

The television in Harrison Bergeron symbolizes the government's power and authority. The entire story takes place in the presence of the television. It works as a sedative, numbing and distracting people from the horrors of the world. For example, when Harrison is murdered in cold blood on a live broadcast, no one protests or bats an eye. In fact, even Harrison's own mother quickly forgets about the murder because she is distracted by the ballerinas.

Furthermore, television acts as a medium for the government to control uprisings and terrorize the citizens. As soon as Harrison escapes, they announce the news on television and warn the citizens. His murder, broadcasted on live television, acts as a warning for people who might be thinking about an uprising. By showing his gruesome death, the government instills fear within people.

3. The dance

When Harrison Bergeron appears on stage and starts dancing with the ballerina, he defies gravity and floats up on the ceiling. Their dance symbolizes human beings' ability to rise above oppression and strive for liberation. Harrison and the ballerina are free of the handicaps imposed on them by the government as they keep dancing while listening to the orchestra. In the face of the government's oppression, their dance symbolizes resilience.

In conclusion,

Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron is a masterful critique of a society that has killed individualism to strive for equality. While class divisions, racial discrimination, and wealth disparity remain serious concerns, achieving an ideal society where everyone is equal at the expense of curbing their individualism is not the right answer.