Harrison Burgeron Character Analysis

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In Kurt Vonnegut’s story, “Harrison Burgeron”, he writes about the future and how society is, “equal”. The story concentrates on giving an idea of how all of people are equal. No one is more or less than others. Agents ensure that every one is equal physically and mentally by having people wear “Handicaps”, which decreased whatever ability people had that exceeded the Agents’ expectations. The main character in the story is Harrison Burgeron, who fights for his freedom of speech, and the need to reveal his true self and identity. This led to his life coming to an end, however he motivated others to open their eyes and see that they also had the same abilities to be themselves, and to be free. Harrison Burgeron was a hero due to the fact that he stood up and fought for what he believed in, even though he knew the consequences were life-threatening. Harrison was considered beautiful and very intellectual, however he was not able to use the talents he had because the law required him to wear “Handicaps”. Harrison as well as others with talents were reprimanded. “It was then that Diana Moon Clampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the …show more content…

When Harrison rips off his steel handicaps and restraints the physical beauty and strength he revealed showed the people on the stage set, and those that are watching television that underneath their own restraints, they too are also talented or lovely like Harrison was. He tried accomplishing something no one else wanted to or could do. He sent a powerful message to all of society in an attempt to set people free. Although in the end, nothing changed because the ruler Diana Moon Glampers refused to allow anyone to be above everyone else. It is quite ironic though that if everyone was equal in the year 2081, then why was Diana Moon Glampers above everyone