The story, “Harrison Bergeron”, is written by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. It is a fantasy set in the United States in the future where the government goes to absolute extremes to force and ensure complete equality amongst the people. The government uses various methods to ensure equality in all aspects of life. Beauty, intelligence, strength, unique skills, abilities, and even human senses are all controlled with different methods and equipment to solidify that no one person is in any way better or worse than another. Historically, the story may come as a warning to some of Communism and Totalitarianism. Others may view it as a source or reference showing there is no peaceful way to create equality. This may all be true but, the story distinctly shows the negative effects of a world with government forced equality.
At the beginning of the story, it is declared that it is 2081 and everybody is equal. It then continues to say that the equality is due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments are law and government enforced by the United States Handicapper General. The Story then mentions Harrison Bergeron for the first time. He is the 14 year old son of Hazel and George. It indicates that Harrison was taken by the Handicapper General’s men, but doesn’t initially tell why. George and Hazel’s minor child was taken by the government and for some reason they aren’t outraged. They are unable to be angry due to their government forced handicaps. Hazel was just of average intelligence and bore no handicaps because she could only think in short bursts. George on the other hand was very intelligent and to compensate was forced to wear a little radio in his ear set to a government transmitter that sent out a new very sharp sound every 20 seconds keeping him from thinking clearly. The government had taken their son and made it so they were unable to think clear enough for long enough to do anything about it. Government forced...