Harrison Bergeron (short story)

"Harrison Bergeron" is a short story first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction on October 5, 1961 and reprinted in the collections Welcome to the Monkey House in 1968, the first volume of Library of America's Vonnegut set in 2012, and Complete Stories in 2017. It was Vonnegut's only publication for that periodical. It was reprinted in the conservative American journal National Review, founded by William F. Buckley, on November 15, 1965, which has also continued to reference it frequently. Although popular in conservative circles, some scholars such as Darryl Hattenhauer have instead seen the story as a satire of simplistic American views of equality. It was featured as a segment of the television film Between Time and Timbuktu.

Plot Summary

By the year 2081, the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the United States Constitution have now mandated absolute equality of all citizens in terms of intelligence, strength, ability, physical attractiveness, etc. under the watchful eye of the United States Handicapper General. That April, the "H-G" took 14 year old, seven foot tall Harrison Bergeron from his parents, Hazel and George, whose above average intelligence requires him to wear an earpiece that makes painful noises every twenty seconds to prevent extended thinking. One evening the two are watching a ballet performance on T.V., although because the dancers have weights tied to their limbs, they aren't any better than anyone else would be. George vaguely thinks this doesn't seem right, but his thoughts are quickly silenced by a painful noise, as are those of two of the ballerinas. Hazel, sitting next to him, has been crying but can't remember why. She suggests that George and his forty-seven pounds of weighted birdshot handicap lie down for a while. She wishes he could relieve himself by just taking out a few balls. George replies that not only would he spend two years in jail with a $2000 fine for every ball he took out, but if everyone did that society would return "to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else" which Hazel admits would be horrible.

A news bulletin interrupts the performance, although the newscaster, as required, has a speech impediment which makes him unable to read his report. A ballerina with the most weight handicaps and a hideous mask, who also forces her voice into a harsh squawk, reports that Harrison has escaped from jail and is without his usual handicaps: headphones to constantly impede his thoughts, thick glasses to distort eyesight and give him headaches, a red rubber ball nose and black caps on his teeth to cover his good looks, and more weights than anyone has seen, at least 300 lbs. At that moment, Harrison bursts into the studio and declares himself Emperor, commanding that everyone must obey him. Stating he wishes to select a consort, one of the ballerinas dares to rise and Harrison removes all her various handicaps. He does likewise for the musicians and says if that they play well, he will make them barons and dukes and earls. He and the ballerina dance in a way that seems to violate both human and natural laws. Handicapper General Diana Moon Glampers enters with a double-barreled shotgun and kills them both, then aims it at the musicians, giving them ten seconds to put on their handicaps. The T.V. burns out and George, returning from the kitchen with a beer, notices Hazel has been crying. She can't remember why, but it was about "[s]omething real sad on the television".

Adaptations

"Harrison Bergeron" was the basis for a loose adaptation of the same name produced by Showtime, released in 1995. It was directed by Bruce Pittman, and starred Sean Astin, Christopher Plummer, Eugene Levy, Howie Mandel, and Andrea Martin. A 30-minute short film adaptation directed by Patrick Horne and starring Richard Kindler was made in 2006. Another 26-minute adaptation named 2081 was released in 2009, written and directed by Chandler Tuttle and starring Armie Hammer, James Cosmo, and Julie Hagerty.

Cultural References

In 2001, United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia quoted the story at the conclusion of his dissent in the case PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin. Tristan L. Duncan cited the story in a case before the Kansas Supreme Court regarding local taxation for school spending. Although Vonnegut initially disagreed with Duncan's interpretation, he later retracted this criticism after receiving more information. An article regarding the new hyperandrogenism policies of the International Association of Athletics Federations and the International Olympic Committee was entitled "The Harrison Bergeron Olympics".

See Also

• The Church of God the Utterly Indifferent, a religion in The Sirens of Titan whose members voluntarily handicap themselves as a doctrinal practice