Thursday, November 13, 2014

In the context of "Harrison Bergeron," what makes a person normal or abnormal?

Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" is a
commentary on the future of mankind in a world where everyone is equal. There are
amendments to the Constitution which now require everyone to be equal--another way of
saying "normal." Everyone is to be the same, and to ensure it, various handicaps are
given to each citizen to offset any talent or ability. This is an attempt to make
everyone normal; instead, the result is a world of mutants who wear weights and rubber
noses and thick glasses--all designed to take away the talents and gifts with which each
person was born. This is, supposedly, a world in which everyone is
normal.


In contrast, the "abnormal" character is Harrison
Bergeron. He is clearly an especially gifted young man who is now, by law, encumbered
with outrageous handicaps.  He appreciates beauty, he refuses to be bound by his
handicaps, he wants to dance, and he wants to soar. His tactics in trying to make that
happen are rather outrageous, but he is bold and brave in wanting to break free of what
is binding him.


In this futuristic world, then, "normal" is
being weak and trapped and handicapped; "abnormal" is being willing to fight the
shackles and aiming for something beyond "normal."

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