Question

What ultimately happened as a result of the drive for equality"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut

Answer 1

Answer:

What happened as a result of the drive for equality in "Harrison Bergeron" is that society became both average and unfair.

Explanation:

"Harrison Bergeron" is a short story by author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Set In the year of 2081, when the American government is able to provide total equality. However, this equality comes in a strange and most unfair manner. People are not allowed to be themselves so that others - less beautiful, intelligent or capable - do not feel bad about their disadvantages. The Handicapper General forces those who have advantages to be handicapped. Harrison Bergeron, a fourteen-year-old, who has astonishing looks and intelligence is forced to wear all sorts of handicappers to make him average like everyone else - weights, teeth caps, earphones, heavy spectacles, a red rubber ball on his nose, some head gear.

As we can see, the drive for equality took a bad and sudden turn. In Harrison's society, no one is truly free. People cannot voice their opinions or express their true selves in any way. They suffer, of course, but they have grown used to and afraid of it at the same time. The government will punish those who dare to be spectacular (Harrison is shot and killed by the Handicapper General when he removes his handicaps on TV). Society must remain average to be equal, even if this equality is unfair.