“Government With-out Limits”
“Government With-out Limits”
Jim Butcher
An Analysis of Kurt Vonnegut’s short story
“Harrison Bergeron”
The
society created by Kurt Vonnegut in the short story “Harrison Bergeron”, reflects
different sociological theories including Marxism, and Social Darwinism.
Marxism is demonstrated though the non existence of classes and the idea of
ultimate equality. Marx believed that he
could study history and society and detect tendencies and the potential
outcomes of social issues. His ideology hinged on his view of human nature and
the assumption that human nature involves transforming nature. This is apparent
in the use of handy-cap devises to “level the playing field”. For example, in
the story, smart people were forced to wear devises to distract them and
beautiful people were forced to wear ugly masks. Social Darwinism also plays a
heavy roll by introducing the role of government as the oppressors. This is a
prime example of the wealthy, influential, and powerful individuals/groups, taking
precaution to not be over thrown. By limited the masses the government is able
to feed their greed and control society.
The
true intent of the laws in “Harrison Bergeron” is to keep the ruling class in
power, which is cleverly disguised by a call for equality. By oppressing the
masses the ruling class is able to exert their will on the general population. Handy-caps are put in place to create an
inferior level of comprehension and understanding, which makes the ruling class
unapproachable. For example, it would
have been just as easy to bring the masses to a higher level by providing
increased beauty and abilities. However it is clear that the intention is not
to make people equal but limit their abilities.
Norms,
values, and culture also play a role in controlling and molding society. They
place additional social controls by providing punishment outside of legal
system. Rules are followed because they
are seen as norms and as the popular opinion of the society. This places
additional social pressure to follow them.
In addition to this there is also the possibility of punishment that is
a deterrent to people. In the case of “Harrison Bergeron” people like George and
Hazel (like animal conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell) are conditioned
to see this life of equality as the best and only solution for their
society,
In the story laws are created to suppress the
people. The Handy-capper General is put in place by a ruling class of
individuals to show perceived order which is only oppression under the veil of
equality. The illusion of equality is re-enforced by the in ability of pain and
suffering, as when George, Harrison’s father, like a goldfish cannot even
remember what happens 10 seconds ago.
The government creates amendments without limitations that people have to
follow. You see this with the introduction of the 213 amendment in the story.
They create amendments as they find new ideas and reasons to have them. In this
fictional government the laws are created by a panel of people with a grand overseer
who dictates the law to the Handy-capper General, who mindlessly carries out
the bidding of the “counsel”.
“Harrison Bergeron” provides
examples of both law changing society and society changing law. It is safe to assume that the story implies
that society in the pursuit of equality adopted laws and amendments designed to
make the people in the world equal in some kinds of ways. These amendments were
made so that no one is better or less equal to another in every kind of way
such as looks, size, and level of IQ. Later these laws began to change society.
In this fictional world society began to change as laws per put into place.
Laws created more law which changed society. This is evident in the 213 amendments
that are introduced in the story. Also
the rule of many became the interest of a few that control everyone in the
world and punishes those who do not listen and do not want to be equal.
In
the world of “Harrison Bergeron” there is no individual that can do a job
better than another. This would be the
same for the role of lawyers. Lawyers
and the legal system will be put in place as figure heads of society or as a
distraction from the issues. Real justice will be dispenses summarily by the
inspector general as dictated by the ruling class. In this world there is no
criminal court but instead the swift justice of jury, judge, executioner
appointed by the “elite”. In civil courts attorneys pay the roll of monkeys
acting out a play for the viewing pleasure of the general population.
Vonnegut’s fictional world is an
omen of thing to pass with a government that goes unchecked by the people. This story points out that shared disinterest
of the government for the lives of it constituents and the self interest that
is their underlying motivation. It also
sheds light on the over-regulatory practices creating a government for the
people by the government. As many see today, by presidential polls conducted,
the leaders are out of touch with the people this is the same as Harrison Bergeron.
Leaders of the fictional world play puppet master like gods on mount Olympus
manipulating people for their own amusement.