Slaughterhouse Five Themes

Slaughterhouse Five, or the Children Crusade by Kurt Vonnegut, is a science-fiction novel that tells a tale of a gawky World War II soldier. This story conveys important themes that are crucial to the plot of the story, one theme that is prevalent throughout the story is Warfare. Vonnegut horrific war experience inspires him to write a story on the magnitude of war. In the novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut writes a story about an outwardly anti-war hero named Billy Pilgrim. Kurt Vonnegut uses the protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, to express his belief on war. From beginning to end Vonnegut criticizes war particularly “ the Bombing of Dresden. The Bombing of Dresden was a traumatic experience for Kurt Vonnegut as it plays a major role on his

This title was introduced in the story when Vonnegut promises Mary O’Hare that he will not write a book that glorifies war and he will call it “The Children Crusade”. The meaning behind this title is intense that war is not heroic or glorious and that government propaganda tries to blind people from the ugly truth of warfare.This title means the soldiers in the warfare, are"children" implying that they are inexperienced and innocent. Another reason why Vonnegut portrayed the soldiers as children is to emphasize the fact that wars are fought by children,young men, who are incapable of comprehending the cause of the war. Therefore Vonnegut attempts to convey his message that these "children" soldiers are being exploited by sadistic leaders. Vonnegut has chosen the word "children" as children have no duty in the war thus the war should not be occurring and reoccurring. For example, there is a image with a child holding a gun. This would be a illustration of the title The Children Crusade. It conveys the deep message that men in war are only children. This portrayed the soldiers as children to emphasize the fact that wars are fought by the children, who are not capable of comprehending the consequences of

Throughout the story Kurt Vonnegut portray his anti-war sentiment through symbols, tragic events and characters. He conveys his belief the most with the main character Billy Pilgrim. Billy Pilgrim has post traumatic stress disorder, that is caused by the war. Therefore, showing negative consequences that come from war. Kurt Vonnegut also uses the bombing of dresden as to strengthen his anti-war novel. As the killing of innocent people in the Bombing of dresden made Kurt Vonnegut really upset giving him a strongly negatively opinion against war .The alternative title The Children Crusade means that soldiers in the warfare, are"children" implying that they are inexperienced and innocent. Vonnegut has chosen the word "children" as children have no duty in the war thus the war should not be occurring and reoccurring. The theme warfare is prevalent throughout the story, as it is emphasize heavily through Billy Pilgrim experience. Vonnegut terrible war experience inspires him to write a story on the depth of war. In the novel “Slaughterhouse-Five” Kurt Vonnegut writes a story about an anti war hero named Billy Pilgrim. Kurt Vonnegut uses this protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, to express his belief on war. From beginning to end Vonnegut criticizes war particularly “ the Bombing of Dresden. Vonnegut despises war, he believes that war has no purpose and the idea of glorifying it is nonsense. His belief on war is the factor for him writing Slaughterhouse-Five or The Children Crusade as an