Kurt Vonnegut's historical science-fiction novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, recounts Billy Pilgrim’s life as a former U.S. soldier who was a Prisoner of War during World War Two. The Tralfamadorians, an alien race from the planet Tralfamadore, abduct Billy and put him on display in their zoo. While there, Billy not only learns about Tralfamadorians views on death but also their perception of time. Vonnegut wrote the novel with a scrambled timeline, meaning the events of Pilgrims life are out of order as he becomes unstuck in time. He perceives time similar to the Tralfamadorians, all at one moment. The concept of Tralfamadorian time allows for him to treat death as another moment in life, as he sees a great deal of death throughout his life, he
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Relatively early on in Billy’s career in the war, he is taken as a prisoner of war. Upon their arrival at the POW camp, they are forced to strip and put in a shower for decontamination. The description of the humiliation and emasculation the American soldiers feel as they are rendered powerless. In the showers, “There were no faucets they could control...Their penises were shriveled and their balls were retracted. Reproduction was not the main business of the evening,” (Vonnegut 84). They are not only stripped of their pride, and control, but also emasculated. A symbol of their manliness is taken from them, and they are completely vulnerable. To further Billy’s humiliation, he is issued a feminine coat with a “fur collar,” and a “crimson lining of silk,” (90). The sight of the feminine jacket on an American soldier induced laughter amongst the German soldiers. Billy and the other soldiers are put on display, made fun of, and emasculated. Similarly, The Tralfamadorians abduct Billy and put him on display in their zoo. He is stripped of his clothes and has no control, but his experience is slightly different than his earthly endeavor. Instead of being mocked, “most Tralfamadorians had no way of knowing Billy’s body and face were not beautiful”. On Tralfamadore, Billy is admired. The Tralfamadorians are given the impression that Billy is a model of what humans desire to
Relatively early on in Billy’s career in the war, he is taken as a prisoner of war. Upon their arrival at the POW camp, they are forced to strip and put in a shower for decontamination. The description of the humiliation and emasculation the American soldiers feel as they are rendered powerless. In the showers, “There were no faucets they could control...Their penises were shriveled and their balls were retracted. Reproduction was not the main business of the evening,” (Vonnegut 84). They are not only stripped of their pride, and control, but also emasculated. A symbol of their manliness is taken from them, and they are completely vulnerable. To further Billy’s humiliation, he is issued a feminine coat with a “fur collar,” and a “crimson lining of silk,” (90). The sight of the feminine jacket on an American soldier induced laughter amongst the German soldiers. Billy and the other soldiers are put on display, made fun of, and emasculated. Similarly, The Tralfamadorians abduct Billy and put him on display in their zoo. He is stripped of his clothes and has no control, but his experience is slightly different than his earthly endeavor. Instead of being mocked, “most Tralfamadorians had no way of knowing Billy’s body and face were not beautiful”. On Tralfamadore, Billy is admired. The Tralfamadorians are given the impression that Billy is a model of what humans desire to