HARRISON BERGERON- PLOT
Who is the Handicapper General?
In the year 2081, the person who enforces equality through handicaps
Who is the main character who rebels against the society's enforced equality?
Harrison Bergeron
Is the beginning of the story similar to the ending? Explain
The story starts and ends with a similar conversation between Sai and Tilly about his/Tilly's choices (a wake-up song or food). At the end, Sai tries to resist Tilly's recommendations, entertaining the illusion that he's in control.
What company owns the AI assistant Tilly?
Centillion
What are the main themes of The Perfect Match?
1. Loss of individualism
2. Big technological companies vs governments
3. Technological control
What happens to people who are highly intelligent?
Intelligent people have to wear devices to limit their thinking, such as radio transmitters which emit sharp noises.
Who is Diana Moon Glampers?
The authoritarian figure that enforces equality and shoots Harrison: the Handicapper General
Why does Sai become suspicious of Tilly?
Because Tilly seems to control every aspect of his life and influence his decisions, even during a date.
What is the narrative voice in the story?
Omniscient narrator.
Narrator knows everything: what the characters say, do and think.
What does Centillion represent?
Centillion’s omnipresence represents the totalitarian control of technology companies in modern society.
What happens to Harrison Bergeron and the ballerina at the end of the story?
They are shot and killed by the Handicapper General.
What physical handicaps does Harrison Bergeron wear to suppress his abilities?
Heavy weights, thick glasses to impair vision, and headphones to disrupt thought
Describe Sai and Jenny's plan to destroy Tilly.
1. Disconnecting Sai from Tilly
2. Using Malware to Exploit Tilly’s System
3. Infiltrating Centillion’s Infrastructure
4. Disabling Tilly’s ability to manipulate people’s decisions.
What does Jenny symbolize in the story?
Jenny symbolizes resistance and the fight for individuality and autonomy against oppressive technological systems.
What role does the television play in HB?
It keeps people passive and distracted while enforcing conformity
Why does George Bergeron refuse to remove his handicaps, even at home?
Because he believes equality is more important than comfort.
Describe George Bergeron
George is an average-looking man, although his natural intelligence and strength exceed the norm.To maintain equality, he is burdened with a mental handicap radio in his ear. He also wears heavy weights around his neck to counteract his physical strength.
He is a law-abiding and compliant individual; a caring and patient husband to Hazel.
George represents the silent majority of society—those who comply with oppressive systems without resistance.
What is Sai’s ultimate decision regarding Tilly and Centillion?
He chooses to comply with Centillion rather than fight back, prioritizing convenience over freedom
Describe Sai's character
Sai is the protagonist. He is an intelligent and somewhat reserved individual. He works in a world where technology plays a massive role in daily life. He seems content with his life, relying on Tilly for advice, companionship, and decision-making.
Sai represents the modern human dilemma in a technologically dominated world: the tension between the desire for autonomy and the comfort of convenience.
What message does Vonnegut convey about forced equality in the story?
It destroys individuality and creativity
What does Harrison do to the ballerina during his live TV appearance?
He removes her handicaps and dances with her.
Why does Hazel forget about Harrison’s death moments after seeing it on TV?
Hazel is of average intelligence and has a short memory, which reflects the conformity and passivity enforced by the society.
What does Sai learn about Jenny after they try to destroy Tilly, but get caught?
He learns a crucial truth about Jenny’s role and motivations in The Perfect Match. Jenny reveals that she is actually part of a resistance group fighting against the technological dominance of Centillion and had manipulated Sai into helping them from the beginning.
Why does Sai decide to do at the end of the story?
Sai ultimately chooses to stay within Centillion's ecosystem. He cannot bring himself to abandon the convenience and security that Tilly provides, despite knowing it comes at the cost of his autonomy and freedom
What theme does Ken Liu explore through the relationship between Sai and Tilly?
The loss of privacy and free will in a society controlled by technology