In a sense I think that Lem's objection, as you have cited
it above, is very relevant to this story. Note the way that "Harrison Bergeron" presents
us with such a tightly controlled society that any rebellion is incredibly difficult to
achieve and if successful, quickly stamped out, and eradicated incredibly violently.
Even the little joy that the story gives us, when Harrison Bergeron declares himself to
be the "Emperor" and begins to dance with his "Empress" with such beauty and joy, this
is only a short-lived respite from the regimented nature of their society. For, when
they defy gravity with their love and grace, it is precisely at this moment that Diana
Moon Glampers arrives and shoots them both:
It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the
Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She
fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the
floor.
As if to confirm this
pessimistic ending, Harrison's mother is unable to remember seeing the death of her son
on television and is just left with the physical reminder of the tears that indicate
that she saw "something real sad," although she forgets everything else. Although we
have been tantalised by the possibility of change, the pessimistic ending indicates that
nothing has and will change as a result of Harrison Bergeron's
rebellion.
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