extra-ordinary talent and yet was shunned and suppressed by society because he was different and therefore regarded as dangerous. Vonnegut, Jr., who was named one of 100 AUTHORS WHO SHAPED WORLDHISTORY (Perkins 84), often used his short story forum to share his views on political issues. In order to understand Kurt Vonnegut, "a self-acknowledged pessimist" (Literature 784), we must review the climate of America during the late fifties and early sixties. During this period, America was in turmoil.

After the Korean War, Americans were faced with the threat of being labeled anti-American and Communist. McCarthyism, "accusations of communist loyalties" (Compton's Interactive), left many authors, actors and public officials fearful about publicly speaking out about American Policy. Any criticism during this time may have been exploited and the author blacklisted. Authors tried to find imaginative ways of criticizing without jeopardizing themselves. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. ,

needs to be Handicapped in order to fit in with society so that he wont have any

Harrison removed the handicaps from the ballerina and the musicians too. This supports the belief that King, Jr. would have removed barriers or handicaps from all who followed his dream. "Play your best"(787), really was a bid for everyone to be able to do their best despite the color of their skin. When Harrison asks the ballerina to join him, it is like Martin Luther King, Jr. asking politicians to join him. They will be "synchronizing their heartbeats"(788); their "weights will be shifted"(788), meaning that they will have more power fighting for the same causes. "Harrison placed his big hands on the girl's tiny waist, letting her sense the weightlessness that would soon be hers"(784). Politicians and others who follow King will feel a weightlessness when oppression is lifted from their backs. The explanation of Harrison dancing with the ballerina as they

Bergeron. With this background information, we can begin to understand the context of this important, thought provoking piece as an account of the inequalities that existed in the U.S. and not as a wildly unbelievable fictitious future. The author intended for his audience to read this piece and understand the world as it was at the time it was written, see the instability in our society, and take measures to correct it.

resulting from our brothers and sisters trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Hazel "bore a strong resemblance to the Handicapper General" (Literature 784). Since

Some common words found in the essay are:
King Jr, George Hazel, Harrison Bergeron, John Kennedy, Compton's Interactive, Vonnegut Jr, Board Education, King Ghandi, President Ballerinas, Constitutional Amendments, martin luther, martin luther king, king jr, luther king, luther king jr, harrison bergeron, kurt vonnegut, short story, literature 784, civil rights, vonnegut jr, diana moon glampers, compton's interactive, plus plus equals, qtd compton's interactive,
Approximate Word count = 2674
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)