Harris Bergeron: A Quirky Hopeful, Yet Sad Message About Forced Equality

Harris Bergeron By Kurt Vorrengut

I just got through with Hunger Games Trilogy and seem to have a somewhat sleepless night ahead of me, so I reached for my nearest short story collection. The story being reviewed is a scifi classic short called Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Verrengut.

The story is set in future society in 2081 where everyone is ordered to be equal. It must be so by law. So if you’re someone has a high IQ, they get a ear piece that scrambles your thoughts so her or she will will be on the same level with an average IQ. If someone is beautiful, he or she must wear a hideous mask or accessories to match everyone else. If some one is strong, he or she may be forced wear weights to be equal to everyone else in strength. I think you get the point the story is making.

The story focuses on Harrison who is a handsome intelligent man who breaks out of prison. His parents are watching a ballet on TV, when he breaks onto stage . There he and a ballerina shed their weights, masks and all other handicaps the government gave them just to dance on stage as unique individuals for once in their lives times.

The good? There’s a message here, that pure equality is impossible. It's an interesting theme that doesn’t play out into much science fiction any more than that. It’s short, sweet and utterly sad tale.

The bad? Well it is very short. And detail is little lacking.

Overall, its fun, quirky, and sad little read. But is actually well worth the read. If you got a chance to read it, check it out because you won’t forget it.

Overall: A Quirky Hopeful, Yet Sad Message about Equality.

4 smoothies out of four.