Harrison

Harrison

"Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is a short story and a film that portrays numerous facets of human psychology linked with themes that portray a bleak future for the human species. Among these themes is the importance of individuality, the need for knowledge of one’s history, and the stunning effect that one individual can produce through his vision of the truth. The government in this futuristic world of 2053 has manipulated human intelligence to the point where all persons are required to wear bands that rest on their temples. These bands electronically modify intelligence, effectively increasing or decreasing natural IQs to the point where everyone is average. Obviously, these new ideals have no basis in reality. While equality must be striven for in many aspects, it is the differences between people that comprise the backbone of modern society.

Irony is prevalent in this movie as well. Where Harrison is chastised and mocked for his intelligence, secretly he is being monitored by an agency of highly intellectual individuals that run the country, akin to the "Wizard of Oz." The ironic part is that there is a necessity for highly intelligent persons in this "perfect” society. John Claxton (head of the compound) states that there are certain complexities in dealing with other countries that the average individual in America cannot comprehend. Thus, he possesses the role of the godlike advisor, leading the organization behind the scenes that advises and monitors television, news, the president, and all forms of media accessible to the public. Through interpretation, the viewer realizes that under the false facade of mediocrity, society truly covets intelligence. Unbeknownst to Harrison, the woman that...

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...later accepted his values. Philippa is shown at the bottom of the staircase in the final shot, making it apparent that one of the boys upstairs is Harrison's son. If the stairs are interpreted as an evolutionary ladder, it is conceivable that the boy’s presence upstairs puts them on a higher hypothetical rung than Philippa, who still wears her headband.

Harrison Bergeron acts as the outsider in Plato’s cave, venturing into the world apart and returning to tell the others of his vision. The truth that he outlines for them is considered absurd, and he is ultimately consumed by the culture he wishes to change. While his existence may seem to have been in vain, he does change the future. The themes and symbolism in this work of modern art by Kurt Vonnegut illustrate to modern society the importance of individuality and the danger of conforming to a preconceived norm.