Critiques of American Society in Science Fiction — Unit test
Question 10 • DBN LA 6-CR
Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General. Vonnegut uses satire in this excerpt by
Answer
A
describing a society that has taken the idea of equality too far.
B
depicting a dystopian setting where people live and think freely.
C
portraying an ideal society where everyone is equal in every way.
D
suggesting that the government take a more active role in society.
Explanation
Vonnegut exaggerates the idea of equality until nobody is allowed to be smarter, stronger, faster, or better-looking than anyone else. The reference to constitutional amendments and government agents suggests that this sameness is enforced, not freely chosen. This satirizes taking equality too far, rather than describing a genuinely ideal or free society.
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