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Harrison Bergeron
George Bergeron is the father of Harrison Bergeron and the husband of Hazel Bergeron. Although George is characterized by his strength and “way above normal” intelligence, his state-issued mental and physical handicaps limit his talents, making him equal to everybody else. George’s attitude towards forced equalization is ambivalent. He abides by the law of the Handicapper General, declining his wife’s suggestion that he rest his handicaps while at home because he’s afraid of punishment, and he also suggests, while watching the handicapped ballerinas on TV, that their handicaps are in his best interest, since their mediocre dancing makes sure that nobody watching feels inferior to them. However, George does have an inkling that their dancing is bad and it might be worthwhile to see unhandicapped dancing—a thought that is interrupted by his mental handicap before he can follow it any further. Although George is upset by the imprisonment and murder of his son, his loyalty to the state and his inability to think for himself make it difficult for him to find any meaning or political resolve in the experience of losing his son. George’s conformity to the law of the Handicapper General represents a passive mode of citizenship that neglects to critique authority in society.
George Bergeron Quotes in Harrison Bergeron
The Harrison Bergeron quotes below are all either spoken by George Bergeron or refer to George Bergeron. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Harrison Bergeron Quotes
George was toying with the vague notion that maybe dancers shouldn't be handicapped. But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts.
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As George watches the ballet, he can’t help but notice how the dancers’ handicaps inhibit their performance and his thoughts begin wandering towards a critique of absolute equality as it exists under the HG’s rule. However, this critique is interrupted before it begins when George’s mental handicap device interrupts his thoughts. The noise coming through George’s radio exemplifies the powerful interrelation between governmental authority, national media, and ideology which ultimately prevent citizens from being able to form dissenting opinions or even having minor criticisms of the status quo. In this quote, while George has a flicker of recognition that equality Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur molli
“The minute people start cheating on laws, what do you think happens to society?” If Hazel hadn't been able to come up with an answer to this question, George couldn't have supplied one. A siren was going off in his head. “Reckon it'd fall all apart,” said Hazel.
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This exchange of dialogue occurs just after Hazel suggests that George rest his physical handicaps while they’re home alone. Rather than take Hazel up on her offer, George instead chides her for suggesting that he break the law, reminding her, in this quote, how the order of society depends on the law of forced equality. Still, given the absurd, over-the-top laws that require citizens to hamper their minds and bodies for the sake of “equality,” George’s response to Hazel’s suggestion reveals the extent to which citizens in “Harrison Bergeron” become diligent subjects of the Handicapper General’s authority. As George reminds Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut
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George Bergeron Character Timeline in Harrison Bergeron
The timeline below shows where the character George Bergeron appears in Harrison Bergeron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Harrison Bergeron
Despite the nation’s sweeping equality, all is not wholly perfect—“H-G men” have taken away George and Hazel Bergeron’s teenaged son, Harrison. Though this is tragic, the Bergerons “couldn’t think about...
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The TV is broadcasting a dance performance and, though Hazel says the dance is “nice,” George begins to wonder whether it would be better if the ballerinas weren’t burdened by weights...
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...to suggest that he remove a few of the lead balls while they’re at home. George refuses, reminding his wife of the punishment he would receive if he were caught disobeying...
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George, who had left the living room to get a beer, returns to find Hazel in...
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