"Harrison Bergeron" is replete with irony as a narrative about a society that assures that all people are "equal." The opening lines certainly are ironic as it relates the forced equality:
The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobdy was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amerndments...and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.
Likewise, the intelligent are made to wear the "Handicap Ear Radio" so that they will not take unfair advantage of others. So, "normal" ironically is average and ignorant.
As a modern fable, "Harrison Bergeron" is an exaggerated version of some of the "progressive" educational programs designed to ensure that no one is left behind in the learning process. Test results now show that public schools are faring worse than before the great "concern." Thus, Vonnegut's story is an indictment against twentieth-century people who are willing to accept mediocrity in order to eliminate "unfair" competition. "Everyone gets a trophy whether he/she sits on the bench or plays; as long as the person is on the team, he/she wins, too."
Harrison Bergeron's error is not that he is unwilling to accept mediocrity; he wishes to usurp power. Healthy competition is what makes people stronger spiritually, mentally, and physically. Afterall, Darwin's survival of the fittest is based upon natural competition.
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