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What happens when George tries to think for himself in "Harrison Bergeron"? Why is he so heavily "handicapped?"

George Bergeron has intelligence that is considered "way above normal," with normal intelligence being defined as the intellectual capacity to think only in short bursts. Because his society requires everyone to be equal, George's intelligence must be artificially reduced to match that of the average person. George therefore wears tiny radio receivers in his ear that are tuned to a government transmitter that sends out some type of sharp noise every twenty seconds or so....

George Bergeron has intelligence that is considered "way above normal," with normal intelligence being defined as the intellectual capacity to think only in short bursts. Because his society requires everyone to be equal, George's intelligence must be artificially reduced to match that of the average person. George therefore wears tiny radio receivers in his ear that are tuned to a government transmitter that sends out some type of sharp noise every twenty seconds or so. This noise is so jarring that it interrupts George's train of thought so he cannot develop any of his own ideas. The loud noises are transmitted at regular intervals. They are not punishments for George's specific thoughts, but they have the effect of preventing him from being able to pursue a given line of reasoning to a well-considered conclusion.


The entire system is set up so people like George will not take "unfair advantage of their brains." Two of the eight ballerinas dancing on television appear to have mental capabilities similar to George's, as they wince and react each time he hears a loud noise. The government requires that all people must be equal, so George's ability to think deeper or more productive thoughts than other people must be taken away via legally stipulated "handicaps."


The ear receivers are not George's only handicap. He also wears 47 pounds of lead pellets in a bag around his neck that cannot be removed under penalty of law. Carrying this weight around all the time makes him equal with others who don't have his physical strength or stamina. Because of George's physical and mental superiority to others in his culture, he must wear significant "handicaps."

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