In 1969, World War 2 survivor Kurt Vonnegut published his anti-war novel, Slaughterhouse Five, which addressed the issue of supporting war in America, specifically the highly controversial Vietnam War which the US was currently embroiled in. By painting a vivid picture of the true nature of war Vonnegut builds upon his argument that states that the glamorized nature of war, causes soldiers to be unprepared for the repercussions it will have on their nature. This is seen in the devastating effects on the inner psyches of both Billy Pilgrim and Eliot Rosewater. In this specific passage, however he highlights the experiences of Roland Weary to prove that even the most willing candidates for the war are unready for the reality of being at war.
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This is seen in the first sentence of the passage which states that “Billy and the scouts were skinny people” (41). This is in stark contrast of the fat that Weary still has to burn. This fat represents his perceived innocence which is still intact despite being in the war because he protects himself by having a limited worldview. This is seen in how despite their surroundings he was a “roaring furnace” who had “no sense of danger” (41). Vonnegut’s use of this hyperbole helps emphasize Roland Weary’s innocent nature that is built around an unreal reality. Roland Weary loves the idea of war except once he is actually there he can’t do anything more than dream of being home for secretly he longs for security and fame which can only be found after he has survived the war. This is also why Vonnegut uses an onomatopoeia at the end of the passage for by saying “clonk” (42) he brings the reader back to the reality which is the war. For Weary’s failure to acknowledge his surroundings does not stop the reality that is World War Two, which was progressing despite this character’s best attempts to block it out. Vonnegut also uses repetition to add a rhythmic element to sentences in the passage. This is seen in how Billy Pilgrim was “bobbing up-and-down” (42) in his cheap civilian shoes. By emphasizing this movement Vonnegut once agains shows readers how unprepared these soldiers are, because you would expect American soldiers to be properly dressed for war. Along with diction, Vonnegut employed syntax to build upon his
This is seen in the first sentence of the passage which states that “Billy and the scouts were skinny people” (41). This is in stark contrast of the fat that Weary still has to burn. This fat represents his perceived innocence which is still intact despite being in the war because he protects himself by having a limited worldview. This is seen in how despite their surroundings he was a “roaring furnace” who had “no sense of danger” (41). Vonnegut’s use of this hyperbole helps emphasize Roland Weary’s innocent nature that is built around an unreal reality. Roland Weary loves the idea of war except once he is actually there he can’t do anything more than dream of being home for secretly he longs for security and fame which can only be found after he has survived the war. This is also why Vonnegut uses an onomatopoeia at the end of the passage for by saying “clonk” (42) he brings the reader back to the reality which is the war. For Weary’s failure to acknowledge his surroundings does not stop the reality that is World War Two, which was progressing despite this character’s best attempts to block it out. Vonnegut also uses repetition to add a rhythmic element to sentences in the passage. This is seen in how Billy Pilgrim was “bobbing up-and-down” (42) in his cheap civilian shoes. By emphasizing this movement Vonnegut once agains shows readers how unprepared these soldiers are, because you would expect American soldiers to be properly dressed for war. Along with diction, Vonnegut employed syntax to build upon his