Final answer:
George and Hazel Bergeron from 'Harrison Bergeron' symbolize the effects of extreme government control and the suppression of individuality, reflecting Vonnegut's criticism of forced uniformity in modern society.
Step-by-step explanation:
George and Hazel Bergeron, characters from Kurt Vonnegut's 'Harrison Bergeron,' represent aspects of modern society viewed from a dystopian perspective. Vonnegut uses these characters to critique the concept of forced equality, the suppression of individuality, and the stifling of personal excellence. George, weighed down by mental handicap radios and physical weights, exemplifies the extremity of government intervention that seeks to create uniformity at the expense of freedom and diversity. Hazel, on the other hand, with her average intelligence that requires no handicapping, embodies the complacent and unquestioning citizen. Their dynamic showcases the dangers of a society that sacrifices individual prowess for the facade of equality, much like the disillusionment with wealth presented in F. Scott Fitzgerald's stories and the critical observations of social norms made by authors like Sinclair Lewis.