Advantages And Disadvantages Of Harrison Bergeron

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Harrison Bergeron, from Kurt Vonnegut's short story, "Harrison Bergeron," represents the pinnacle of human abilities in a dystopian society where absolute equality is maintained by handicapping the gifted. It is a satire on the potential dangers of radical equality. In the year 2081, in the United States, every citizen is made "equal" by the government enforcing artificial handicaps. Harrison, the 14-year-old protagonist, is a 7 feet tall handsome and athletic genius. While these traits would typically be considered virtues, in his society, they are disadvantages. His intellect is restricted by a headpiece that buzzes to disrupt his thoughts. His physicality is weighted down by the enormous load of handicaps to prevent him from utilizing his