Billy Pilgrim's Slaughterhouse-Five Individualism

Another character that was forced to relinquish his individualism due to being alienated by society was Billy Pilgrim from Slaughterhouse-Five written by Kurt Vonnegut. Billy is primarily ostracized due to his obsession with his alien abductions. However, it also seems as though he is young at heart and is unwilling to work towards his future and move on/forward with his life. This is often a characteristic that is frowned upon in society due to the fact that we hold those who are extremely motivated and driven in their careers/live very high up and pay them a lot to continue that work ethic. However, going through a war and trying to come back to a normal life has really been hard on him, and sometimes makes it nearly impossible to complete. …show more content…
He is able to take refuge in another world, since he isn’t able to connect to those around him on earth. It seems as though Tralfamadore becomes his safe place because he is able to make a life there with another woman, “Montana came to love and trust Billy Pilgrim. He did not touch her until she made it clear that she wanted him to… she asked him shyly if he wouldn’t sleep with her. Which he did” (Vonnegut 133). Neither one of them felt safe or at home when they first arrived on this planet. It was through the comfort of having one another that they were able to become acclimated to the planet and survive. Billy has never been that satisfied with his life on earth. His daughter doesn’t believe his stories about his abduction, his friends are all jaded from the war, and he just has no will to really live a fulfilling life. He wasn’t pleased with his wife’s image and attitude; the first time he mentions her he referred to her as a “pretty girl who was covered with baby fat” (Vonnegut 7). Since he is unable to be enthusiastic about his wife or family, Billy comes off as being disinterested in life, which causes his own …show more content…
Frank to jab at the societal standards for traditional relationships. This is because of the scene where he seduces both Brad and Janet and they both end up enjoying their time with him. However, they are immediately ashamed that they tried it out and told Dr. Frank not to tell anyone what they had done. It goes to show that society dictates how we live our lives and what is deemed normal or approved. When we deviate from the sexual stigmas we feel ashamed for testing the waters and figuring out our sexual preferences and what sort of things we may