Question

whom do you think Vonnegut sympathizes in the story? Does he present Harrison as a hero, or is the story heroless? Why?

Answer 1

In Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron," Harrison Bergeron can be understood as being a heroic character.  In the story, Harrison rebels against a tyrannical, inhumane government because he believed their treatment of their citizens was wrong.  He stands up, in essence, for the human rights of his fellow citizens, even at the risk of losing his own freedom or life.  However, given that Harrison escaped from prison, broke the law, and declared himself emperor over all other people, he can also be considered to be a villain. Generally, though, Harrison is conceptualized as being a heroic figure by readers and critics.