All Men are Created Equally
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., author of "Harrison Bergeron" perhaps takes America's First Amendment that all men are created equally a little to seriously. His futuristic short story gives the reader a glimpse of what a truly equal society would be like. In Vonnegut's society various constraints are used to handicap and equalize the citizens; earphones that emit piercing noises to distract the thoughts of the gifted, heavy weights to weaken the strong, and hideous masks to hide ones natural beauty. Vonnegut's dystopian world exposes the dangers and disadvantages of a society with complete equality of all citizens portrayed by imagery, satire and a not so happy ending.
In the beginning of the story the reader is given a glimpse of a truly equal society. Vonnegut emphasis his view of extreme equality and the role the government plays in enforcing it.
The year was …show more content…
.If I tried to get away with it," said George, "then other people'd get away with it -- and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else(Vonnegut 73-75).
Dangers and disadvantages of a dystopian society with extreme equality lead to a not so happy ending where people are so watered down and equalized they are unaware of what is going on among them. Parents struggle to recognize their children and all to quickly forget the injustice and death of their own children, distracted by short memories and government implied handicaps.
“You been crying?” he said to Hazel. “Yup,” she said. “What about?” he said. “I forget,” she said. “Something real sad on television.” “What was it?” he said .“It’s all kind of mixed up in my mind,” said Hazel. “Forget sad things,” said George. “I always do,” said Hazel. (Vonnegut 198-205)
Being the same does not mean being equal, just as being equal does not mean being the