Multiple Meanings

It is amazing that while reading a short story, you can have absolutely no thoughts about it and then walk in to English class and discuss it until the bell rings. When I first read “Harrison Bergeron,” no profound questions or ideas came into my head. However, one other person’s comment can set you off on a train of thought that opens your eyes to a whole other meaning of the story. I had one of these revelations on Tuesday after discussing "Harrison Bergeron." Suddenly, an interesting short story turned into a deep, meaningful piece of literature.

At first, it appeared to be a satirical, sci-fi kind of story with a strange unexplained ending. But after the in-class discussion, I realized that the story isn’t random and futuristic. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s symbols are pre-meditated and universal. “Harrison Bergeron” can be a commentary on many different social and political plights. Vonnegut’s story is a timeless piece of writing because it has been applicable to society in all time periods since he wrote it in the 1960s.

The fact that it was written in the 1960s has a lot to do with the subject matter. The 1960s saw an end to a period in history, the Red Scare, which was filled with paranoia that Communism was going to spread and take over governments all over the world. This wide spread fear is most likely what led Vonnegut to satirize the Communist/ Socialist idea that every one in a population should be equal. In the story, the beautiful cover their faces, the strong weigh themselves down, and the intelligent cannot think without being interrupted by piercing noises. In effect, the government has handicapped every individual so as to make no one superior to anyone else. Knowing this first part of the plot line might convince a reader that this story is solely a criticism of Communism.

Later when the reader is introduced to Harrison Bergeron, the son of two faithfully handicapped parents, we realize that perhaps this story is a criticism of more than just one government and maybe all of them. Harrison Bergeron is seen as the rebel who cannot be contained by the equalizing regime. He grows stronger with every handicap they give him. His defiance of the government and continued resistance symbolizes the idea that a government can never suppress the freedom of the people if they want it badly enough. Harrison Bergeron represents the rise of democracy and freedom, but also the rise of hierarchy. When Harrison cries out, “I am the Emperor!” and “Everybody must do what I say at once!” (54), he is seizing power over a weaker population. This hierarchal unfairness is exactly what communism criticizes about democracy.

Vonnegut presents pitfalls in both of these kinds of societies to point out that no government can be perfect and all-inclusive. All systems come with a list of pros and cons. Regarding democracy and communism, there are choices to be made: hierarchy or equality, knowledge or blissful ignorance, society based on power or society based on threats?

Throughout life we make choices based on the good and bad of every situation. Because of this aspect of life, this story is really relatable and can be used to describe any number of situations. Although the tale of Harrison Bergeron has obvious correlations to government, it can also be symbolic of many different aspects of a society. [568]