In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse Five, the main character Billy discusses death numerous times and how it’s simply a part of life. To further go on, The Tralfamadorians also see death as just another aspect in life, “Now, when I myself hear that somebody is dead, I simply shrug and say what the Tralfamadorians say about dead people, which is ‘So it goes’ (27). This quote talks about how the Tralfamadorians view death and that to them it is irrelevant. Vonnegut uses the phrase “So it goes” throughout the entire novel. By saying this, he is voicing how dying does not matter. Billy takes this to heart and soon incorporates this into his way of life. He begins to go about saying “So it goes” as though he came up with the phrase on his own.
In the beginning of the novel, the main character Billy starts off by casually talking about how throughout his time in the war, death surrounded him. In war and while on the home front, it was visible everywhere he looked and he was not able to escape it, “Billy Pilgrim, empty-handed, bleakly ready for death ” (32). This quote is important because it was evident to Billy that death, according to the Tralfamadorians was not worthy of being talked about or something he could control. Death was another …show more content…
Even when he faces death in the face, he doesn’t seemed phased by it. In our society today, we see death too often. At too young of ages and for barbarous reasons. Deaths today are mourned for weeks and remembered each year. Celebrations of life and funeral services are held. We view it as a ending or a path into the next eternal life for religious people whereas the Tralfamadorians see it as just another piece in the puzzle. It is hard for me to grasp how death can be taken so lightly but that is how to Tralfamadorians operate. Nothing affects them. I envy their way of life at times but realize if I lived that way, life wouldn’t be as cherished as it
In the beginning of the novel, the main character Billy starts off by casually talking about how throughout his time in the war, death surrounded him. In war and while on the home front, it was visible everywhere he looked and he was not able to escape it, “Billy Pilgrim, empty-handed, bleakly ready for death ” (32). This quote is important because it was evident to Billy that death, according to the Tralfamadorians was not worthy of being talked about or something he could control. Death was another …show more content…
Even when he faces death in the face, he doesn’t seemed phased by it. In our society today, we see death too often. At too young of ages and for barbarous reasons. Deaths today are mourned for weeks and remembered each year. Celebrations of life and funeral services are held. We view it as a ending or a path into the next eternal life for religious people whereas the Tralfamadorians see it as just another piece in the puzzle. It is hard for me to grasp how death can be taken so lightly but that is how to Tralfamadorians operate. Nothing affects them. I envy their way of life at times but realize if I lived that way, life wouldn’t be as cherished as it