s of life. An ideal citizen as described is unknown about Ta 3any personal information. Rather, what are important are all the things he do that conforms to the standards set forth by the state. Even the perfect number of children to have is dictated by the state. Although the citizen described in the poem is considered the perfect modern man by the state, with no freedom of personal expression and individuality, the state government that Auden describes is like that of communist system. The society and government of the United States acting more like a dictatorship is also evident in “Harrison Bergeron”. All the citizens are forced to be average for the benefits of the whole society. They are made to believe that no one should be better than others. This way, there will be no hatred, envy and war. However, there is the Handicapper General that controls and regulates all the handicaps. The Handicapper General and the few people who work for her does not have to wear any handicaps. Rather, they take the role of regulating the people and deciding what is good for them. The controlling position to the excess of the Handicapper General can be closely compared to that of a dictator. The ironic situation of the society that calls for equality yet controlled is Vonnegut’s attempt to question the political system that currently exists. There exists no individuality in the society described by Vonnegut. These descriptions are to make us aware that democracy does not exists in a political system that calls for too much uniformity. Rather it is calling for a dictatorship.Individualism is like the backbone of our modern democracy. Where there exist no individual freedom; there cannot be a democracy. If there is no individual freedom then there will be no government. If everyone is average, then who is fit to govern? The society that Auden and Vonnegut portray is that of one with no individualism. Auden writes the...
