Cooperation And Conformity In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” is about a dystopian future where all civilians in America are perceived as completely equal. The government places different types of handicaps on people to make sure nobody has an advantage based on their abilities. This story shows that even though cooperation and joint action are necessary, individuality and risk-taking are the most important ideas in being a complete human being.
In “Harrison Bergeron” cooperation and conformity are shown to be useful traits in a society. In the story many people have different handicaps that prevent them from thinking too hard or being too strong. It would seem that they most people would just take off their restraints. Not only are there laws that prevent people from

George and the rest of the society who feels this way gives the government and Diana Moon Glampers an extreme quantity of power. Not only does she control their bodies but there minds. This shows that when a large group of people conform to an idea and collaborate, they can put their ideas into action. Another example of how joint action is useful takes place when Harrison breaks onto stage. Harrison speaks to the the dancers on stage when he says “ Let the first women who dare rise to her feet claim her mate and her throne!(211)” George’s demonstration was meant to challenge the ideas of the societal norm. When he takes the help of the beautiful ballerina who George declares his “empress” they are able to create a

An example that signifies this is when Harrison begins to dance with the ballerina. Vonnegut uses these words to describe the dance, “not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well(211)” This quote shows how when people have the courage and individuality to stand up for what they believe in they can create something that seemed unimaginable before. When nobody is pursuing new ideas and remaining on the same level as one another than nobody will be able to make progress. If Harrison and the ballerina didn’t attempt to soar through the sky as they were dancing then nobody would know that it even is possible. Without individuality and risk taking there can be no change because nobody will have the ability to go against the societal norms and find something completely different. Additionally the ability to take risks and be yourself is the only way to make an impact on people and the world around you. "I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. "Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!" He stamped his foot and the studio shook. "Even as I stand here" he bellowed, "crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can