Society is stagnant because those smart enough to develop new technology, medicine, and literature have been permanently handicapped, exiled, or killed. ... Themes and Meanings Kurt Vonnegut's purpose in "Harrison Bergeron- is clear and unequivocal. ... Style and Technique Since writing his earliest stories, Vonnegut has been called a science fiction writer, a term, he says, that for many people is another word for a bathroom receptacle. ... Here, as in other stories and novels, Vonnegut appears to be a serious writer who uses the trappings of a futuristic science fiction ...

• Word Count: 1344
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate