Harrison Bergeron - Novel by Kurt Vonnegut

“Not only were the laws of the land abandoned but so were the laws of gravity and motion” (p 4, Para. 19). This assertion by Kurt Vonnegut, author of the novel Harrison Bergeron, portrays Harrison Bergeron, a character in the story who was at odds with the government. The plot revolves around a world that is considered to be ideal and ruled by equality (p 1, para. 1). Harrison Bergeron, son of George and Hazel Bergeron, is the main character. Harrison was imprisoned on suspicion of plotting to undermine the government. Even though Harrison was seen as trying to overthrow the government control of this “perfect” society with his ideas and radical actions, Harrison Bergeron should be regarded as a hero because of his courage to stand up for himself, as well as society crippled by equality handicaps.

The story made on the television about Harrison of his dangerous in nature is misleading to anyone who reads the story but does not establish the character traits of the accused (p 3, para 9). Not that he is that perfect, but he was portrayed badly by the government because he is accused of attempting to overthrow the government. On the contrary, this is a man who was out there to show his courage to the fellow citizens who developed cold feet towards the government. Harrison’s heroism is envisaged in the story when he goes against tides and expresses his displeasure with the government openly, without fear.

Talking of bravery, Harrison did what was unthinkable to his fellow citizens. He took off the mask he had been forced to wear and everything the government had made him wear in covering up his beauty. This action clearly is an act of bravery. It is not easy to defy government directives lest one wants to lose his or her life. Arguably, most people hold their lives precious and may not take chances of losing them. However, Harrison cared not. He was ready for anything that may come by. The way he carried out himself was synonymous with heroes.

No man could wear heavy garments made of metals comfortably like did Harrison. His strength and capability made him wear 300 pounds and yet walked with ease.

“Instead of a little ear radio for a mental handicap, he wore a tremendous pair of earphones, and spectacles with thick wavy lenses.”

“Scrap metal was hung all over him. Ordinarily, there was a certain symmetry, a military neatness to the handicaps issued to strong people, but Harrison looked like a walking junkyard. In the race of life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds…”

Harrison was a revolutionary leader. He advocated for a change of society norms that had prevailed in his society. Notably, Harrison was standing against an oppressive government that monitored every single individual deemed a threat to its existence. Harrison and the father are just a sample of them. The law requiring some people to wear mental handicap radio in their ears and its connection to the government transmitter was inhumane.

This directive by the government means the citizens had limited rights: rights to privacy and expression. It also means that the government was dictatorial as it did not allow democracy to thrive in the society. Harrison might have got fed up by all these atrocities by the government that prompted his plotting to overthrow the government. According to the ballerina, Harrison was very dangerous.

“He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should e regarded as extremely dangerous…”

“…if you see this boy, do not – I repeat, do not – try to reason with him.”

The second statement above by ballerina confirms that the government was afraid of Harrison as he could easily convince other citizens to revolt ultimately overthrowing the government. He could defy the government and threaten its existence. These deeds portray a hero.

Harrison’s age does not corroborate with what is told about him and what he does. At the beginning of the article, we are told that the Handicap General took a fourteen-year-old boy from his parents, that is, Harrison.

“ And it was in that clammy month that the H-G men took George and Hazel Bergeron’s fourteen-year-old son, Harrison away” (p 1, para. 2).

The age factor is also repeated in ballerina’s announcement.

“Harrison, age fourteen has just escaped from jail…” (p 3, para. 4).

A person of that age, arguably, cannot in the first place, be a threat to the government and also plot a coup. As such, he was extraordinary. It will thus be right to claim that he was a hero as he dared to do what people even twice his age could not have dared to do in that society. He commanded respect despite his age. For instance, he declared himself an emperor and claimed he was a greater ruler than anybody who had lived. That was an act of heroism.

“I am the emperor! Do you hear?”

“Even as I stand here I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!” (p 3, para. 16)

The moment Harrison escaped from the jail is heroism in itself. It is common knowledge that whoever is a threat to the national safety or the government is given maximum security and at no circumstances can he be taken for granted. The fact that Harrison was accused of treason and the knowledge they had about his capability warranted maximum security and attention. However, Harrison managed to escape prison despite all those controlling garments and handicaps he wore. It is a surprise how he evaded all those security measures characterized by a prison, adding to the fact that he wore headphones specifically for controlling his thinking. This is undoubtedly heroism on display.

Lastly, a hero never fears. This attribute is present in Harrison. Despite having escaped prison, Harrison did not go into hiding as is the case with many individuals. He rather appeared at the media house and on the television where the entire nation viewed him (p. 3). The government could easily know where he is, a move that obviously would have resulted in his arrest. Additionally, Harrison was not a fool. On the contrary, he was intelligent just like his father. This decision was an act of heroism. Moreover, he had the guts of tearing off his and ballerinas handicaps an indication that he was in control and everybody had to abide by his orders.

As highlighted hereinabove, the acts of Harrison embodies a hero. Even though he got killed at the end, he left a mark and a name in the society of an individual who was ready to stand against the bad leadership in society regardless of the risks that lay ahead.

Work Cited

Vonnegut, Kurt. harrison Bergeron. Mercury Press, 1961.