Equality is a concept which has become exceptionally prominent in recent years and is now regarded as a topical issue both in the United States and worldwide. The short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut describes a dystopian world where people have achieved true equality. Despite the fact that the author tries to portray an equal society, it is discriminatory since it ensures equality through suppression of citizens’ rights, while the current American society espouses the equality of opportunity.
“Harrison Bergeron” is set in 2081, which highlights Vonnegut’s intention to show the reader how society would evolve in a century. The short story depicts the United States, where new amendments guarantee that no one can be in any way better than others (Vonnegut, 2017). As a result, people who excel in a certain sphere or possess qualities which can be considered above average have to intentionally curtail their abilities.
It clear that such a society is not equal because it does not let people realize their potential fully. For instance, dancers who could deliver superior performance had to wear sash weights and mask their faces in order to conceal their elegant movements and beautiful faces (Vonnegut, 2017). Harrison Bergeron’s world is different from ours because it imposes absolute equality, which ultimately eliminates individual freedom.
Modern society promotes the equality of opportunity, which means that all individuals are treated the same way regardless of their religion, sex, or ethnicity. For example, the Black Lives Movement is working towards attaining equality among all races in terms of the criminal justice system treatment. Personally, I would not want to live in Harrison Bergeron’s world because, in it, my personal rights would not be respected, and my life would be dependent on the state and its actions.
The short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut allows the reader to get an insight into the aspects of society which embraced total equality. Such a society puts people with talents and abilities at a disadvantage since they have to hide and hamper their qualities. Modern society espouses a different path, the one which is based on the equality of opportunity and respect for the personal rights of citizens.
Reference
Vonnegut, K. (2017). Complete stories. Seven Stories Press.