Slaughter House Five

Chapter One:

The first chapter serves as an introduction in which Vonnegut directly addresses the reader, pointing out that the book is based on events that really occurred. He experienced first-hand the destruction of Dresden, during WWII, an event that he has never been able to put out of his mind. For twenty-three years, he has wanted to write about it.

Vonnegut's attitude towards war becomes clear in this first chapter. He sees it as a totally futile occurrence, but he is resigned to the fact that war will always exist. He feels that wars have taught people insensitivity towards death. He cites the detached attitude of a woman writer as she relayed the news of a young veteran's dying. He finds such a nonchalant, uncaring attitude repulsive in any human being. Vonnegut then points out the irony in the fact that war tries to fight violence with more violence. He also questions the American government's treatment of violence as a "top secret" affair that is not to be discussed. I took this as interesting it's just the first chapter and yet the author is pointing out and beating you with multifaceted issues that he will hopefully find solutions to towards the end of the novel.

The character displayed as the author of the story tells of how he writes it and the events which lead to publication. In one instance he meets with a fellow veteran, Bernard O'Hare. When faced with his wife, Mary O'Hare's anger about war, Vonnegut assures her that his book will not glorify violence. Her main concern is the death of "babies" who will grow up and die in war. Along with his assurance to her, he also considers calling the book, "The Children's Crusade." The author has tried to pass on his knowledge of the futility of destruction to his children. He wants the younger generation to understand what the older ones have always failed to. Mary seems bizarre but I understand her purpose and that is to set out the mindset that the book wants the reader to adhere. There is a lot of precautions Vonnegut is making before he even preludes the story.

Vonnegut revisits Dresden with O'Hare, and this, along with the completion of this book, is of great importance to him. With these two things he has managed to free himself of his obsession. He says, "People aren't supposed to look back. I'm certainly not going to do it anymore." I'm not sure if I agree with this entirely. Reflection sets a basis for change and growth. However with post war symptoms like post-traumatic-stress, and what have you it's understandable to want to move on. War is so surreal sometimes the idea is ludicrous.

Chapter 2:

The book's main character, Billy Pilgrim, is introduced in this chapter, and a chronological summary of his earthly life is given. There was nothing extraordinary about his growing up or youth. In fact, there was never anything extraordinary about Billy until he became "unstuck in time." Now he claims he has also been kidnapped by aliens. This too me is concerning. It makes me uncomfortable the way it's described. I like books that play into the psyche, however when it becomes bombast and silly it's disheartening. I want to be able to understand and believe the main character. Since Billy's public claims about time-travel and aliens occur after his plane crash, the people around him, especially his daughter, believe his fantastic stories are caused by brain damage from the head injury he sustained in the crash. This portion of the novel really upsets me. I am concerned that the novel will be inaccurate in light of the one telling it to be insane.

Billy is a harmless person who seems to merely exist, with little will of his own. Even when things happen to him that he does not like, he refuses to assert himself. In this second chapter it flashes back and forth in time. Billy is just starting as a Chaplain's assistant in the war. He is unprepared and awkward. He gets "saved" but this obnoxious Boy named Ronald Wearily- a blood thirsty bull from Pittsburgh. During the war, he allowed Roland to bully him along. When he time travels, he has no input as to whether he goes, where he goes, or for how long he goes. As a result, Billy seems to be a weak character who is at the mercy of powerful forces that surround him and over which he has no control. Again this upsets me. Perhaps that is the point though; Billy's whole design is a sort of figurehead of everyone fighting in a war they know nothing about...

Chapter 3:

The chapter begins on a note of irony. At the end of the last chapter, a frustrated Roland is seen hitting Billy for moving so slowly and causing the scouts to leave. Ironically, the arrival of the German soldiers, the enemy, saves Billy from further mistreatment by Roland; in other words, Billy is rescued from his American compatriot by the enemy.

The Germans who capture Billy and Roland are portrayed as weak men, not the invincible, omnipotent "enemy" that the Americans imagine them to be. Throughout the novel, Vonnegut tries to convey the message that the "enemy" is also human, and humans are vulnerable and imperfect, whether they are Germans or Americans. He also makes it obvious that war is an unnatural state of existence that dehumanizes people. This is clear in the description of the captured Americans who lose their individuality and their will to resist. Focusing only on survival, the prisoners become totally passive. The enemy is also dehumanized by treating the captured men as inanimate objects. I think this is what truly captures the essence of war. To kill you have to deny your humanity. It is all a state of disillusionment that people get conditioned to.

As an escape form the unpleasantness of imprisonment, Billy begins to involuntarily time-travel. In his future, he sees himself falling asleep at work. This action, coupled with his time traveling, reveals his tendency to escape from anything unpleasant. It is significant that in his time-traveling, Billy sees himself as a rich, prosperous, and respected man. In spite of his success, however, he is still "unenthusiastic about living." This makes me wonder about the author's whole view of existence in its entirety. Billy lives with his wife, has a stable job and a good family yet however he needs his escape. Perhaps when things are referred to as being easier we relax our conscious and only resort to those in every way we can.

Vonnegut makes it clear that Billy does not feel he has any control in shaping his life. He states, "Among the things Billy Pilgrim could not change were the past, the present, and the future."