1. Billy Pilgrim’s experience with the Transmalfadorians was easily the most problematic and questionable aspect of the novel. His contact with these beings helped define the novel as science-fiction rather than purely historical fiction. However, Billy Pilgrim was not exactly mentally sound due to his exposure to gore and disaster while in Dresden. The PTSD he suffered led me to question whether Pilgrim was truly a reliable narrator. His experiences with the aliens seemed to be Pilgrim’s means of rationalizing his condition in a time when PTSD wasn’t recognized as a psychiatric illness. His belief that he was “unstuck in time” carried with him when he (presumably mentally sound) met with his old friend to discuss the war. The question
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This exemplified the theme that free will was an illusion. Free will was also suggested to be an illusion by the fact that the novel began with Vonnegut. Because Slaughterhouse-Five is considered an autobiography, this showed the final step for Billy Pilgrim, Vonnegut’s alter-ego. This predestination showed where Pilgrim would end up, but not necessarily how he would get there. Moreover, Pilgrim could best be described as stumbling through the story; he was not actively in control of his actions. Things just happened to him. He is the epitome of the “just walking along…” type story in that he was just taking a stroll when he was abducted by aliens and he, again, was meandering through the countryside when some Germans got a hold of him. None of his actions were direct or forceful. He was in a cloud the entire …show more content…
Rather, he tagged along with whatever was going on (whether it was marching through the German countryside, being abducted, or cleaning up in Dresden); he let things happen to him. This passive characteristic was central to Pilgrims role and allowed him to me molded and sculpted by those who surrounded him. For instance, Pilgrim was characterized as lowly and dejected because of his treatment by Weary and the other soldiers, both allied and axis. By making fun of Pilgrim by beating and forcing him to wear a feminine coat, the other soldiers not only perpetuated the Billy Pilgrim’s passivity, but also showed that he was very patient and had thick enough skin (or cowardice) to endure their various forms of
This exemplified the theme that free will was an illusion. Free will was also suggested to be an illusion by the fact that the novel began with Vonnegut. Because Slaughterhouse-Five is considered an autobiography, this showed the final step for Billy Pilgrim, Vonnegut’s alter-ego. This predestination showed where Pilgrim would end up, but not necessarily how he would get there. Moreover, Pilgrim could best be described as stumbling through the story; he was not actively in control of his actions. Things just happened to him. He is the epitome of the “just walking along…” type story in that he was just taking a stroll when he was abducted by aliens and he, again, was meandering through the countryside when some Germans got a hold of him. None of his actions were direct or forceful. He was in a cloud the entire …show more content…
Rather, he tagged along with whatever was going on (whether it was marching through the German countryside, being abducted, or cleaning up in Dresden); he let things happen to him. This passive characteristic was central to Pilgrims role and allowed him to me molded and sculpted by those who surrounded him. For instance, Pilgrim was characterized as lowly and dejected because of his treatment by Weary and the other soldiers, both allied and axis. By making fun of Pilgrim by beating and forcing him to wear a feminine coat, the other soldiers not only perpetuated the Billy Pilgrim’s passivity, but also showed that he was very patient and had thick enough skin (or cowardice) to endure their various forms of