Part One: In the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr, the government takes fourteen-year-old Harrison Bergeron from his parents George and Hazel. All of this is happening in the year 2081, and Amendments 211, 212, and 213 are in effect during this time. Hazel has only average intelligence and her husband George wears a helmet on his head, which limits his thinking. Hazel and George watch TV while two ballerinas dance, but they wear radios, which restricts them and makes them dance the same way. Hazel said that if she were a disabled general, she would ring chimes on Sunday to make it religious. Hazel tells George to take a nap because he looks tired from carrying the handicap bag that weighs forty pounds. She suggests he gain weight, but for every weight he gains, he goes to prison for that many years. Plus, everyone would go back to their competitive ways in the community, and he doesn't want that. While they are watching television, a journalist arrives with a speech impediment, he is not able to speak clearly and remains silent. to a ballerina with a beautiful voice but an ugly face. Hazel was proud of the reporter who was trying to talk about what God had given him and thought he should receive an award. The Ballerina reports that Harrison Bergeron has escaped from prison. He weighs 300 pounds, wears metal, has a red rubber nose, shaved eyebrows and his handicaps. An image of Harrison appears on television as he takes over the newsroom. He says he is the emperor and everyone must obey him. He removes all his disabilities and says that the first woman to rise will be his empress. A ballerina stands up and he picks her up as they defy gravity by kissing. He has... middle of paper... swollen nose, one of the ballerinas has to wear a mask to hide her beautiful face and make her look ugly. The smart must wear helmets that disrupt their thoughts and the strong must carry weights to keep them grounded. The government already provides equality, but freedom will cost you a price if you want it. Television is another symbol of the story because it broadcasts all the important information one needs to know about Harrison and what is happening with him. Irony plays a role when Harrison reveals himself to be a stronger person while wearing his disability gear. The weights were actually supposed to make him heavier, but instead made him stronger. Additionally, his parents, George and Hazel, don't react much when the government takes their son back to make him the same as everyone else. Hazel also forgets how their son dies because his intelligence and memory are not good.: