Harrison Bergeron

The inciting incident occurs when the H-G men take Harrison, age 14, away. He is not mentioned again until it is revealed that he escaped prison. A ballet dancer announces that he is above average in attractiveness, intelligence, and strength, and he should not be reasoned with. His picture shows him fully outfitted with restraints, a clown nose, and blackened teeth. Giant headphones emit sounds to stop him from thinking. When he enters the studio, his steps cause a small earthquake. He rips off his restraints to reveal a man who “would have awed Thor, the God of Thunder” (24).

In a society that strives for total equality, Harrison’s existence is a threat to the social order. He exceeds the average in every way. He is aware of his power, declaring himself the “greatest emperor who has ever lived” (24). He shows off his abilities with the ballet dancer. He forces the musicians to play and shows off his musicality by singing to them the way he’d like them to play. While he and the ballet dancer kiss, however, Glampers shoots him, putting his abilities into perspective.