"Harrison Bergeron" is a dystopian science fiction short story written by Kurt Vonnegut and first published in 1961. It deals with egalitarianism. The theme is set by the first line: "The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal." Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in October 1961, the story is now available in the author's collection Welcome to the Monkey House.

This equality has been achieved by handicapping the most intelligent, athletic or beautiful members of society down to the level of the lowest common denominator, a process central to the society which is overseen by the United States Handicapper General, who at the time of the story is the shotgun-toting Diana Moon Glampers. A highly similar (though less developed) version of this idea appeared in one of Vonnegut's earlier works, The Sirens of Titan.

The story was adapted into a TV film in 1995 starring Sean Astin. It also formed a segment of the 1972 TV production and book Between Time and Timbuktu.

The story centres on George Bergeron and his wife Hazel watching TV. Whereas Hazel is "perfectly average", i.e. incapable of thinking straight except in short bursts, George - who is intelligent - has to wear earphones which disrupt his intellect.

Due to their stupidity, they have forgotten about their 14-year-old son, Harrison Bergeron, who has recently been captured by the Handicapper General's men, on account of his exceptional intelligence, height, strength and beauty -- "a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder" -- and his outgrowing hindrances faster than the Handicapper General's office can think them up. When he is taken to prison on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government, for a time he escapes and manages to break into a television studio, and throw off his imposed handicaps:

"I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. "Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!" He stamped his foot and the studio shook. "Even as I stand here" he bellowed, "crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!"

The ensuing hullabaloo is televised, with the Handicapper General herself eventually shooting Harrison and his dance partner to death; Bergeron's parents, Hazel and George, are at home watching television, and see the whole thing. However, thanks to his concentration handicaps and her natural stupidity, once it is all over, they forget what exactly it was that had caused so much excitement.

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Characters in written science fiction | Dystopian fiction | Films based on Kurt Vonnegut's works | Kurt Vonnegut works | Science fiction short stories | Dystopian fiction