Angelina D’Andria

ENGL 151-171

1/30/2020

Essay #1

“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut: Literary Analysis

The popularity of technological dystopian literature can be approximated around the early

20th century as a response to the impossibility of utopian scenarios often depicted in earlier

works of fiction. The combination of the scientific-technical revolution and the popular

controversies surrounding civil rights and individual freedom that dominated the mid-20th

century contributed to the publication of “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut

depicts a futuristic America where natural born abilities are punished with government-issued

handicaps in an effort to make everyone equal. When a young and extraordinary Harrison

Bergeron attempts to rebel against the government and encourage the public to reject their

handicaps, he is killed on live television by the Handicapper General. Vonnegut employs the use

of a dystopian setting, societal conflict, and both situational and dramatic irony in order to

promote individuality in accordance with equality, while also warning against the effect

television can have on our compliance with injustice.

“Harrison Bergeron” physically takes place in the living room where George and Hazel

Bergeron are watching a ballet on the television. This places the reader in the position of a

helpless observer, unable to change the situations presented on TV despite the very apparent

injustice. The circumstances surrounding the time period are described as a futuristic America in

the year 2081, where the future implementation of new Constitutional Amendments enforce the

equality of everyone through physical handicaps that impair natural born gifts and advantages.
H-G men enforce the laws so that mediocrity is made mandatory, forcing everyone to perform

similarly. Diane Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, is put in charge of punishing

individuals that are smarter or more talented than the average citizen. Those who are naturally

mediocre are the most fortunate because they are not forced to wear any physical handicaps.

George Bergeron and his son Harrison are among those forced to wear multiple handicaps that

impair their physical and mental capabilities. The government tries to discourage any thoughts of

rebellion or independent opinions by either of the Bergerons, but when Harrison did not show

signs of submissiveness to the law, he was taken to jail by the H-G men to be dealt with more

severely. These future circumstances allow the conflict between Harrison and the government to

intensify to the degree that Harrison decides to take drastic measures to rebel.

Vonnegut’s short story is a fantastic example of the literary conflict between man and

society often exemplified in dystopian writing. Harrison and the government’s opposing goals

provoke the individual decisions made throughout the story that allow the plot to thicken,

eventually leading to the demise of the main character. The government’s goal, to limit the skills

that differentiate individuals, is implemented further by the new Constitutional Amendments put

in place to punish any efforts to defy the law and the handicaps placed on Harrison to make his

rebellion more difficult. However, Harrison’s goal to be free of the government’s restriction and

to have the right to express his talents directly contradicts such laws. This goal precipitates his

breaking of the law, momentary freedom from his restraints, and his attempt to encourage the

public’s rebellion. Although, “nobody had ever born heavier handicaps,” Harrison shows great

resilience and, “[outgrows] the hindrances faster than the H-G men could think them up.” This

exemplifies how determined Harrison is to rebel against the government and how many attempts

the Handicapper General and her followers have made to restrict Harrison’s abilities. The
government ends the conflict by killing Harrison, thereby ending his rebellion. However, this

begins a new conflict for the government that the audience assumes continues after the written

story ends. Because their cruel methods of dealing with extraordinary individuals were televised

to the entire country, more of the public may now feel inspired to rebel.

There are multiple examples of both situational and dramatic irony throughout

Vonnegut’s short story. Situational irony occurs when the author describes the restraints given to

the talented individuals in this dystopian society. The audience would expect Harrison to be

highly valued because of his talents and abilities, but instead he is punished for the advantages he

has no control over. For example, Harrison’s handicaps are described as, “scrap metal [hanging]

all over him,” and, “ a tremendous pair of earphones, and spectacles with thick wavy lenses.”

Situational irony also occurs when all of the government’s efforts and handicaps do not hinder

Harrison’s efforts to rebel or express his abilities. It is written that, “[Harrison] had outgrown

hindrances faster than the H-G men could think them up.” The audience would expect all of the

handicaps Harrison possesses to impede his ability to function, but instead Harrison is depicted

stronger than ever as evident by the claim that he, “[tore] the straps of his handicap harness like

wet tissue paper.” Dramatic irony occurs when Harrison’s parents watch his death on television.

Hazel begins to cry, but is unable to remember the cause of her sadness. Contrary to Hazel’s lack

of remembrance, the audience knows that the impetus behind her sadness is that she witnessed

the death of her child on live television. These instances of irony highlight the possibly

catastrophic results that could occur when individuality is monitored and restricted. This could

also potentially bring attention to instances during tragic global events when the public’s

expectations underestimate the danger of the situation, causing a lack of preparation and thus

more tragedy.
 The use of many literary devices such as setting, conflict, and irony can be found

frequently throughout “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. Such devices support Vonnegut’s

purpose of educating the audience of the importance of individuality in cooperation with equality

and warning of the dangers of futuristic technology on individual abilities. Authors such as

Vonnegut employ such dark circumstances and themes in an effort to influence the readers to

realize and participate in the solution of potential problems that impact a multitude of

individuals. The events of “Harrison Bergeron” may not happen exactly as written in the future,

but the potential of such situations occurring could influence public awareness of such issues.