preview

Examples Of Handicaps In Harrison Bergeron

Decent Essays
Open Document

In a society like one in Harrison Bergeron, people are obligated to wear handicapping devices to make sure that everybody was equal in all areas of everyday life, but these handicaps clearly were not successful in creating equality. To add on, these devices were made to allow everyone to have the same amount of skill as others, therefore ruling out the problem of jealousy and judgement. If anything, I feel like these handicapping devices had only made the problem of lack of equality worse than it was before.

Harrison, the main character, would be a clear example of inequality. Though Harrison has multiple handicaps due to his strength, and multiple capabilities, it can be seen that this does not fully affect him the way it affects others. For example, the text states, “he outgrown the hindrances faster than the H-G men could think them up.” In a way, it almost seems as if whatever handicap they made him wear, he repeatedly got used to them and therefore needed a different kind. It was almost as it the handicaps had no longer fazed him. The handicaps that were a burden to other citizens had been much worse for Harrison, but he was still able to take them off as if they were nothing. Harrison has taken his handicaps off with ease and no reluctance whatsoever. This can be proved by the quote, “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds.” Due to the fact that Harrison had no trouble with his

Get Access