Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
In the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut I perceive the theme to be the importance of individuality, and a need for individual difference for fear of losing our humanity when nowadays equality for all is an issue. In many aspects, equality must be striven for. People have always been different and will always tend to remain that way. Individualism is a doctrine and marks the differences between people recognizing the value of diversity in modern society.
"The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal in every which way." The preceding sentence begins Kurt Vonnegut's very scary view of a future society where everybody was equal. Nobody could be more intelligent than anybody else. Nobody could be stronger, prettier or faster than anybody else. The Amendments to the Constitution and the agents of the United States Handicapper General would make sure it was kept that way.
Kurt Vonnegut speaking at Case Western Reserve Uni...
Vonnegut Wooden Nickel
English: This is a photo of architect Bernard Vonn...People will have to wear handicaps to modify their intelligence or appearances. If they are beautiful they will wear ugly masks. If their intelligence was above normal, like George Bergeron, they will wear a radio on their ear tuned to a Government transmitter. The transmitter will send out noises that will scattered their thoughts and will keep them from taking advantage of their brains. If they were not heavy enough they had to wear handicap bags full of birdshot, and this is the case of the ballerinas. They were required by law to wear them at all times.
The kind of society presented in this story where everybody is equal and there is no competition, can be loosely related to the society we are living in today. In today's society we demand...