Examples Of Ptd In Slaughterhouse Five

Does Billy Pilgrim suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

In the novel, Slaughterhouse Five, the author Kurt Vonnegut is centered on events which took place in the 1940s during World War II; at this time it is very much a story during the Vietnam era. The novel faced the horrors of war, especially the bombing of Dresden. Billy Pilgrim, the main character, having survived through being a prisoner of war and the destruction of Dresden, suffered through traumatic events. By witnessing the horrific events of war, it is likely Billy has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), which throughout the novel causes to review and repeat events through his life. Post traumatic stress disorder involves disturbance of sleep and constant

The battle results in fierce fighting and then the he is haunted due to the journey of war and its circumstances is increased by the events, which causes other events to occur in an unchronological manner. Firstly, Billy Pilgrim becomes acquainted with, and a friend to a fellow POW, a colonel who lost his entire regiment throughout the course of the fighting of the Battle of the Bulge (Vonnegut, 67). The second is the death of an arrogant soldier, Roland Weary, who looked after Pilgrim on the their march with the other soldiers to act as a heroic person. Weary stayed behind with Pilgrim during their trek and therefore blames Billy Pilgrim for his death; he died of gangrene that had started in his mangled feet (Vonnegut 35). The first experience shows him what Acute Stress Disorder can do to the mind, what it can do to a person on the last straws of their life(PTSD: National Center for PTSD). A scout had been “given charge” to kill Billy Pilgrim after the war. This man, who was the sole comforter of Roland Weary during the latter’s final minutes on the train ride, promises to avenge Weary’s death by killing Pilgrim (Vonnegut 44). Lazzaro says to Billy, “But lemme give you a piece of advice: Whenever the doorbell rings, have somebody else answer the door”(. But Vonnegut goes even further in his writing. Not only does this confidant, by the name of Paul Lazzaro, promise, declares that

This may be simply avoiding to talk or think about the event. Although Billy tries to discuss his abduction by the Tralfamadores later on in his life, he seems to avoid talking about his time during war. Valencia, Billy’s wife, had said, “I get a funny feeling that you’re full of secrets”, and Billy in response says, “I’m not”, this was a lie of course (Vonnegut 57). As their conversation continued about war, he kept it short and then went to the bathroom because he could not handle talking about his past and having negative