What do you make of Harrison Bergeron himself? Does he represent the American dream to “be all you can be”?

Answer 1

He does, but in a perverse, power-hungry way. Sure, he wants to use all of his gifts and extraordinary abilities to their fullest -- nothing wrong with that. However, he's striving to use them to gain power and obedience, not too unlike what the Handicapper General has done; he says to the audience at the ballet, "'I am the Emperor!... Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!' He stamped his foot and the studio shook. 'Even as I stand here' he bellowed, 'crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!'" He is conceited and so desperate to use his talents that he goes too far and uses his gifts and fearsome persona to be controlling, desiring to be considered superior and more worthy of power than those to whom he's speaking.