Author: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Year: 2081
Central Theme: The pursuit of enforced equality in society and the consequences.
Time: Year 2081
Society: A dystopian future where everyone is made equal by law.
Legal Amendments: 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution.
Government Authority: United States Handicapper General oversees the enforcement of equality.
Parents of Harrison Bergeron.
Hazel:
Average intelligence, physically unhandicapped.
Her thought process is limited to short bursts due to her average intelligence.
George:
Above-average intelligence but wears a mental handicap radio.
Experiences sharp noises disrupting his thoughts to maintain societal equality.
Fourteen-year-old son of George and Hazel.
Described as intelligent and athletic but confined due to his abilities.
Escapes from jail where he was held for plotting to overthrow the government.
Society values absolute equality, emphasizing lack of superiority in intelligence, beauty, or physical abilities.
Individuals wear handicaps to ensure equal capability.
George and Hazel watch television featuring handicapped ballerinas to emphasize mediocrity.
Conversations reveal their inability to think deeply due to government-imposed handicaps.
Bald dancer descriptions suggest the extent of handicaps.
Government messages broadcast by handicapped announcers.
News bulletin introduces Harrison’s escape and his exceptional traits.
Harrison's dramatic entrance in the television studio captivates the audience.
Proclaims himself as "The Emperor" and expresses desire for freedom from handicaps.
Confrontation with authority as he removes all his handicaps, revealing his physical prowess.
Harrison selects a ballerina as his empress, creating a moment of beauty and defiance against the oppressive regime.
They dance, showcasing potential beyond imposed limitations, achieving a moment of true freedom and grace.
The scene symbolizes the human spirit's desire for transcendence over societal constraints.
Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, violently restores the status quo.
Executes Harrison and the ballerina to re-establish control and maintain societal norms.
The aftermath of the execution: George and Hazel's inability to grasp the tragic events due to their handicaps.
Hazel's forgetfulness and George's desensitized state highlight the impact of enforced equality on individual thought and emotion.