Lack Of Empathy In Slaughterhouse Five

Humanity’s emotional nature is striking in comparison to other species. In particular, empathy is the ability to acknowledge an individual’s feelings, a sought after trait in potential friends. On the contrary, cruel and inhumane conduct has a tendency to be exposed when this emotion is lacking. In Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five the danger of the lack of empathy is highlighted as it leads to twisted priorities. The author demonstrates the latter through the insufficiency of compassion in daily life, the stubbornness of one’s self interest and the consequences of warfare on the aforementioned emotion.

To begin, the everyday people in the novel regularly exhibit uncompassionate behavior. When the protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, is in the hospital

Consequently, they make the decision to kidnap two humans in the hopes of displaying them in a zoo to pursue their studies of foreign species. Montana Wildhack is the second victim, and her kidnappers do not bother to explain her situation; opting instead to keep her unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness “she turn[s] her head to see the myriads of Tralfamadorians outside the dome.” then “[she] scream[s] and scream[s].” (62). The aliens feel no remorse for Montana and their wish to spread their way of life at the expense of others remains unharmed. Their lack of compassion fuels their aspiration to expand their reach throughout the universe. As for the prior kidnapping of the protagonist, who is aware of what is occurring, the forceful nature of the Tralfamadorians is made evident. Alien abduction is a perplexing thing to be a part of, especially as the abductee and naturally, Billy wants to understand what is happening. After asking why he is the one being kidnapped they harshly reply “that [it] is a very Earthling question to ask, Mr. Pilgrim. Why you? Why us for that matter? Why anything? Because this moment simply is.” (37). Instead of giving him a genuine answer and allowing him to interpret their words they opt to pressure him to think in a certain way. Once more, their stubbornness leads others to feel inferior. Furthermore, when Billy reveals his prediction regarding the end of the universe and reflects on the cruelty of the human race he is immediately shut down. Having postulated that “[i]f other planets aren’t now in danger from Earth, they soon will be.” (55), the Tralfamadorians belittle his opinion causing Billy to feel “deflated” (55). The aliens’ lack of empathy and desire to hammer an ideology into the protagonist’s mind lead to the eventual dismissal of his daughter’s emotions. Billy’s experiences demonstrate the fact that