Harrison Bergeron Study Questions
1. It seems at the opening of the story, that an extreme form on equality has been imposed on society, by the government. This would seem to be a consequence of Communist thought, or perhaps simply equality, misunderstood then taken to its logical ends.
2. The extreme nature of the changes described are impossible under capitalism and most other systems as well. The situation in the story is taken to an extreme to make a point and illustrate the base idea behind some of our current beliefs. The story is attempting to define our understanding of equality. In the story, and under some schools of thought in reality, “equality” meant everyone being equal in every way; intelligence, attractiveness, income, and on and on. The story shows the logical conclusion of the “you’re all winners” philosophy.
3. The agents enforce mediocrity. Anywhere someone attempts to think outside the norm, they are there to ensure “equality” There are many means to achieving such a society. Over time, a society can be deluded to the point that such an extreme is possible.
4. He is obviously parodying our attempts to down play personal responsibility, by lumping children, and adults, together rather than judging them based on their actions. His story is a satire on a politically correct America, where we all can be winners, rather than those who work for it.
5. It is represented in that it follows that all aspects of human life must be dumbed down so that no one person excels above another.
6. Harrison is pushing past the system that has been forced upon him. The handicaps that have been imposed on him are forcing him to break through in an opposite response.
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