The job of Diana Moon Glampers, Handicapper General, is to ensure everyone remains “equal” and use their handicaps. She is the face of the government with her handicapping henchmen and has a very strong “Big Sister” appeal in society (Alvarez). This strikes the question however, where are her handicaps? Diana is of average looks; however she must be of above-average intelligence to handicap an entire nation. Diana as well as her henchmen bear no handicaps and have no restrictions keeping them from being above average (Mowery). That’s because this dystopian society is only seemingly equal on the surface. A society isn’t truly equal without everyone complying with the laws of equality including the government officials enforcing them.

     “Separate but equal” is the term often used when discussing segregation. In the years between 1865 and 1870 the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were put into place abolishing slavery and giving African-Americans the same rights as whites (Brunner). Sound familiar? These amendments were set to equalize society; however, they didn’t stop the oppression of African- Americans. “Black codes” were set in place to prevent freed slaves from escaping the work they had already suffered through for years (Black Codes). Whites used the government to manipulate the freedom of African-Americans in a way that benefitted them.

     When looking at Harrison Bergeron and African-American history there can be many connections made. The governments in both times have set oppressions on specific groups within society to keep them at a level where they have the ability to manipulate them. African-Americans were the root of manual labor for generations and many plantation owners were not capable of the work needed to keep up with their own land. They were in fact above-average workers and many of the black codes set in place oppressed their ability to rise above manual labor. In Harrison Bergeron the motives of oppression are similar. The handicaps in Harrison Bergeron work exactly the same as the black codes did and kept everyone at a level that was easily manipulated.

     These handicaps are a punishment for greatness. The purpose of these handicaps is not to create equality- it is to disintegrate the power of the individual. The government in Harrison Bergeron is not striving to create equality, but instead manipulate it and bring it down to a level that is easily controlled. In many of Kurt Vonnegut’s works we find a common theme of the government finding a way to remove free-thinking and individuality. Why? These are the traits attributed to questioning the government and even protesting its tactics. Numbing the minds of above-average citizens takes away the chances of rebellion.

     In Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut was demonstrating the government’s power of enslaving a nation. This is an issue still faced in the 21st century. Nations have become victims of government oppression for centuries and will continue to face this. Harrison Bergeron, a young boy of fourteen wore handicaps so mighty he looked like a “walking junkyard” and his mental handicap was a set of large headphones. Harrison’s efforts of over-throwing the government were immediately ended when he was shot on live television. Much like the KKK the Handicapper General used Harrison as an example of what could happen should anyone choose to rise above the social standard. Rosa Parks can also be strongly related to Harrison himself. Rosa Parks stood against the law and represented every ounce of rebellion the government DIDN’T want much like Harrison. Harrison stood for everything the government was against and was the poster-child for rebellion and both he and Rosa Parks were imprisoned. Citizens are capable of greatness and are capable of overthrowing the government at any time should they so choose to. The government’s one and only tactic preventing this rebellion is fear. The fear of military power, the fear of imprisonment, the fear of death.

     The society in Harrison Bergeron is far from equal, it is just simply manipulated into thinking so. Even so a society where everyone is brought DOWN to the same level cannot be a society that thrives. The handicaps within Harrison Bergeron are very little technology they are simple chains and weights or hearing aids that shoot loud noises into your head. There is little technological advancement for this story to take place so far into the future (Alvarez, 2002). This is because the handicaps completely put a halt on any innovation and inspiration within society. New things cannot be created when the next Einstein’s thought pattern is shattered every twenty seconds due to loud distracting noises.

     The year 2081 was not in fact entirely equal. They were only equal within slavery. The handicaps in Harrison Bergeron are a direct symbol of government oppression within a society. Citizens may become desensitized with the use of media or simply things becoming social norms, such as handicaps, and this allows for government control. Preventing individuals of questioning society takes away the element of protest leaving the government the power of free reign over society. This short story depicts the government’s power to enslave a nation and succeed, however it also highlights the power within an individual should they choose to stand up.