Humanism and Equality Expressed Through Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron"

In his short story "Harrison Bergeron," Kurt Vonnegut explores the human odyssey of becoming ever more equal to one another. He presents a view of what society would be if humanism disappeared, and the laws all humans would be forced to adhere to. Humanism is "any system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, and dignity predominate" (New Oxford American Dictionary). Vonnegut took his ideals and morals about humanity and formed "Harrison Bergeron" to express the changes that all of humanity must make to move forward to triumph over war and prejudice. At the surface Vonnegut's message is seemingly rebellious towards government rule but when looked at closer his story forewarns of things to come if change is not brought about in the minds those in society. As Todd Davis states, "Vonnegut's fictions are particular quantum states in which Vonnegut and his audience experience reality" (Davis 116). Though "Harrison Bergeron" may seem to be farfetched, Vonnegut has merely presented the truth in an extreme format.

The power that government holds over its people should never exceed the rights that are given to them by the people it represents. "All of this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General" (Vonnegut 1207). Ironically the three Amendments that are described must be the repealed 11th, 12th, and 13th Amendments of the United States Constitution. These three Amendments represent the freedoms that protects states making them sovereign and free from litigation, the right to vote, and illegality of slavery. This idea of government going from only twenty seven Amendments to over two hundred shows the extreme amount of power the government was able to eventually gain to control its people. Vonnegut's tries to strike fear into the reader by reminding them that government is a never-ending threat and that if it is not watched carefully humans may quickly become enslaved. Expressed many times throughout history the government is "for the people, by the people" and at anytime can be destroyed and rebuilt if the government becomes to powerful. Vonnegut is clearly an advocate of the second amendment of the United States Constitution which gives citizens the right to bear arms so that if the government gains to much control they may rise up against the government and over throw it so that they may rebuild it. He expresses this threw the uprising of Harrison Bergeron who fights against the government to later be shot and killed by a government official. Though the constitution in the United States expresses that government and religion are to be separated there is continuing proof that decisions that are made at the state level are based purely on religious ideologies and not on the base of bettering everyone as a whole.

All people of every race, ethnicity, and sex need to live with a humanistic sense in them or society will be forced into specific guidelines that all people must follow. This is Vonnegut's largest idea throughout this piece of literature that though it is good to have a certain amount of rules that guide us and keep civilization from going into chaos we also need to keep them to a minimum. "Vonnegut, like most humanists, had little use for speculation about supernatural realms and saw organized religions that attempted to do so as creating needless division in the world" (Niose 1). Humans feel the need to believe in someone greater then themselves so that they are not living just to make it through to the next day. Though it is perfectly normal to hold religious and spiritual views Vonnegut is trying to tell humanity that problems that arise in society need to be dealt with in a non-religious manner. For example if the United States creates a law stating everyone must wear a mask, Americans can sit around and pray about it but nothing will come of it. Religion plays a nominal part in society by simply keeping people sane and stopping them from going out and committing horrific crimes. It is the humanistic side that humans must practice daily so that the freedoms they posses will not be taken away from them.

Though too many it may seem far-fetched, Vonnegut's idea of what life will be like in 2081 can be found in past history all over the world. Vonnegut uses the ideals and plans of Germany to show what life may have been like for those if WWII had been won by Germany. "Vonnegut, who fought in Europe in World War II and was a prisoner of war, refused to accept war as the norm" (Niose 1). The Germans wanted to exterminate the Jews and those with physical and mental handicaps so that they could create the perfect race. This race would put everyone on an equal playing field making it impossible for anyone to excel because everyone would have to live up to the same standards which would create an identical race. This is an extreme of one view point in history where government became too powerful and though it has been experienced already, there are still examples of it going on in society today. Cuba a long-standing communist country runs on the principle of conformity. That in society "all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and need" (New Oxford American Dictionary). This idea of publicly owned land and property keeps almost all of the population at the same level making it nearly impossible to achieve to the highest of their ability. Though this idea of sharing may help those who are less fortunate or talented then others it holds many more people back allowing those who could achieve many greater things to be destined for staying average. The orchestra, ballerinas, news casters, and basketball players are what Vonnegut used to represent everyone as one. Humans idolize these characters in our society making them the achievements that everyone at some point wanted to be. Vonnegut showed that though many will never achieve the status of playing for the New York Symphonic Orchestra or play for the Celtics we must not allow ourselves to stop trying to move society forward so that the generations to come will be more talented and educated to become what they dream of.

Humans throughout history have felt that it is their naturally born duty to level the playing field for everyone so that those who are less fortunate or untalented have the same chance to achieve what they desire. Human nature throughout history has shown that we believe all people should have the same chance to succeed like everyone else through special education, handicapped accessible parking, brail for the blind, etc... What Vonnegut did was turn the tables to impair those who are more talented and smarter to be handicapped so that they cannot achieve anything more then those with the lowest abilities. "Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains" (Vonnegut 1207). This happens consistently in everyday conversations when people put down ideas or achievements that others have achieved. Though most believe we live in a society that is free of this kind of prejudice Vonnegut is highlighting the small details of daily life to show that not everything is as it appears. "Harrison Bergeron" represents the fighting spirit that is in every human that most do not express. He followed his instincts to try and free those he could around him so that maybe, for even just a moment people would understand what it means to be free from the laws of society.

Vonnegut's story of unfair due process, freedom of speech, and slavery was not farfetched at all. He expressed that society only exists through the minds of the people who have created it and that if as a civilization humans stop questioning government and the laws that govern them that one day it may become a reality. This society would hamper the thoughts, ideas, and achievements that could have been achieved by all of those who make it up. If generations to come do not learn from the mistakes that have made by those in the past then the basic freedoms that all humans have a right to possess may one day be taken away. In every culture there needs to be forms of religion and ethical guidelines so that society does not fall into chaos, but if those boundaries are stretched too far, society will become what it was created to deter. "The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal" (Vonnegut 1207).

Works Citied

Vonnegut, Kurt. "Harrison Bergeron." Legacies. Eds. Cheryl Forman and Lindsay Veautour. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009. 1207-1211.

Niose, David. "Kurt Vonnegut Saw Humanism As a Way to Build a Better World." Humanist Jul/Aug (2007): 22-22. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Sojourner Truth Library., SUNY New Paltz. 25 November 2008