Vonnegut’s description of the setting helps convey the idea that the world’s resources are limited and the planet can only support a certain number of people. In the beginning of the story, old age, diseases, and accidents are eliminated and contribute to people living extremely long lives. Because people can live so long, the law states that “no newborn child could survive unless the parents of the child could find someone who would volunteer to die.” This law shows that stabilizing the population is very important because of the limited resources. Mr. Wheling is not pleased that he has to choose one of his children to live, and Dr. Hitz argues back: “…before scientists stepped in and laid down the law, there wasn't even enough drinking water
