“Harrison Bergeron” 

by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr

The year is 2081 and everyone has been made equal by force. To do this, every person who is superior in
any way has been handicapped (something that prevents a person’s full use of their abilities) by the
government.

Intelligent people are distracted by disturbing noises. Good dancers have to wear weights so that they
do not dance too well. Attractive people wear ugly masks so they do not look better than anyone else.

However, one day there is a rebellion, and everything changes for a brief instant.

What Is Great About It: Technology is always supposed to make us better. But in this case, we see that it
can be used to disable our talents. Moreover, the writer shows us how the mindless use of a single value
like equality can create more suffering for everyone.