Perspective in Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”
The narrative perspective, Point of View:
In Harrison Bergeron,the author uses a 3rd person point of view, though the characters like (George,and Hazel) to portray the reader's understanding of the society that suppresses forceful equality to all. This type of narrative perspective is forcefully not deep and and fragmented in pieces were it mirrors the handicaps,which is imposed by the government to oppress individual thought, individuality and intelligence, the authors shows this clearly through george,who begins to think deeply when “a twenty-one-gun salute in his head” interrupts him showing how they oppress george from complex thinking.The author’s use of this narrative perspective portrays how the characters experience this “equality” which leaves them limited confused and controlled,Through its narrative, the author demonstrates that forcing people to be the same destroys the strive for individual achievement. With this narrow view, Vonnegut underlines how absurd it is to make everyone equal and he cautions readers against losing their freedom and identity in the rule of equality.
The perspective of key characters (e.g., Harrison, George, Hazel, the Handicapper General)
In Harrison Bergeron, George and the Handicapper General both see the world differently because of the oppressive government. George’s mental handicaps make it difficult for him to think and it becomes clear when one sharp noise continuously stops his thoughts, proving that people’s private thoughts are watched. He comes to reflect the position of the individual oppressed by the government who has little power to stand against it. While everything is happening, the role of Handicapper General highlights the government’s oppressive presence. Her attitude is formed by her job to protect equality at all times which becomes clear when she kills Harrison. The author uses the characters to show the effects of totalitarian control: George’s thinking is limited and the cruel Handicapper General represents the power behind its harsh rules. It demonstrates how the story advises against giving up your beliefs to achieve what might be seen as an illusion of equality.
3.Vonnegut uses different kinds of irony to build the reader's perspective of a dystopian regime in which complete equality is ultimately oppressive instead of liberating. He uses situational, dramatic, verbal, and character irony to reveal absurdity and danger of trying to be free in this kind of place. E.g., in this book the declaration "Everybody was finally equal" is illustrating verbal irony. It looks happy on the surface, suggesting equality and justice to readers' eyes. But in reality, this "equality" came at the price of incapacitating the brilliant, hiding the beautiful, and weighing down the strong. Instead of lifting others up, who are less skilled, the world drags everyone down to the lowest possible. This type of irony of statement and purpose leads the reader to realize the violence hidden beneath the disguise of fair-mindedness. Author uses situational irony when Harrison Bergeron, a 14-year-old boy described as an icon of perfection, declares himself emperor and removes his handicaps. In a normal world, this should be regarded as heroic or revolutionary in a universe built to destroy uniqueness. However, instead of inspiring change, Harrison is shot and killed on live television by the Handicapper General. This irony is embodied in his intelligence and freedom is punished, not rewarded, providing a haunting sign: resistance is not hope giving but it is fatal. The reader is left to observe how a system that claims to dispense justice actually silences the individuals who take the initiative to be exceptional.