“Harrison Bergeron” By: Kurt Vonnegut

Utopia A utopia is a perfect world. In utopias, there are not problems like war, disease, poverty, oppression, discrimination, etc.

DYSTOPIA A dystopia is a futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through technological, moral, or totalitarian control. (An imagined place where everything is unpleasant or bad) Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.

Defining characteristics of dystopias Usually a controlling, oppressive government or no government Either extreme poverty for everyone or a huge income gap between the richest characters and the poorest characters Propaganda is used to control the citizens Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance Citizens live in a dehumanized state Citizens must conform to uniform expectations Technology and technological advances play a central role in the story

The dystopian protagonist • often feels trapped and is struggling to escape • questions the existing social and political systems • believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives • helps the audience recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective

Passage 1 “The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General. Some things about living still weren't quite right, though. April for instance, still drove people crazy by not being springtime. And it was in that clammy month that the H-G men took George and Hazel Bergeron's fourteen-year-old son, Harrison, away.”

One can infer that through multiple amendments to the constitution “All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution,” that society has changed dramatically. It is stated that people were “equal in every which way.” The government and the United States Handicapper General, aid in keeping the society equitable: “unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.” The statement that “everybody was finally equal” suggests that the process of creating absolute equality was a measurement of society’s progress and success.

Passage 2 “And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains.”

A handicap is any disadvantage that makes success more difficult. It is learned that George is extremely intelligent, and because of this the government places a “handicap” on him to stop him from being smarter than others. It was previously mentioned that the people who work for the Handicapper General have taken George’s son away, and now it appears they are controlling George’s thoughts to keep him from thinking too much. **What are you thoughts on the “handicap” placed on George by the goverment?

Passage 3 ‘"Ladies and Gentlemen," said the ballerina, reading the bulletin. She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous. And it was easy to see that she was the strongest and most graceful of all the dancers, for her handicap bags were as big as those worn by two-hundred pound men.”

The ballerina has to wear an ugly mask to hide her beauty and must carry heavy bags while she dances to make her “equal” to the other dancers.

Passage 4 ‘"Harrison Bergeron, age fourteen," she said in a grackle squawk, "has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous.”’

Harrison is George and Hazel’s son. The government sees Harrison as completely dangerous because he was able to escape from jail after trying to overthrow the government. It is mentioned that he is “under-handicapped,” which in this instance means that he was in some way able to likely break free from the “handicaps” that were placed on him in the story. The government is likely threatened by Harrison. ***Harrison Bergeron is the dystopian protagonist in this story. What qualities of the dystopian protagonist does Harrison illustrate?

An interesting piece to know about this story… This entire story will take place in front of a TV screen as George and Hazel watch the events unfold with their son who has recently escaped from jail.

Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) “Kurt Vonnegut was concerned about the way people treated one another in a world of high technology. So he has written novels, mostly satires, to express his concern about morality, about human society, about values. ‘I consider writing an act of good citizenship,’ he has said.” – passage from Elements of Literature text

Literary terms to know when reading… Satire- any kind of writing or speaking or art that ridicules or mocks some weakness in individuals or in society. The main weapon of the satirist is laughter.

Irony Irony - the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Words to own Hindrances- n. obstacles; things that restrain or prevent an activity

Words to own Symmetry- n. balanced arrangement

Words to own Consternation- n. fear; bewilderment

Words to own Cowered- v. drew back or crouched in fear and helplessness

Words to own Synchronized- v. causing to occur at the same rate or time