So It Goes Quotes

In the book, Slaughterhouse-Five written by Kurt Vonnegut, the author uses the phrase “So it goes” numerous times. This phrase appears in the book after the occurrence of a death, or the mention of a death. Death is something that cannot be avoided, and since it cannot be prevented, the term “so it goes” is used for death knowing it is, and it has happened and will happen to all living being. The quote is a view on life given to us by Billy Pilgrim and the Tralfamadorians . This philosophy could be the reason Billy was able to keep on living life. He used it as a way to cope with what he had to deal with. If he had visualized all the characters as being dead, without living on, he would’ve probably given up on his life as well. Billy would not have seen a reason to go on, or find a way to go crazy. The images of people frozen is what helped him to live on, and the quote “so it goes,” reminded him that life goes on after everything. All the tragedies he had witnessed, made him more aware of life .Death is what we consider our fate, something we cannot change, nor reason with. While it may be hard for some to acknowledge, Billy was aware of this and he accepted it and moved on.

For example, when his father was killed and when over 100,000 citizens of Dresden were killed. These events all portray and represent the quote, “so it goes.” It does not give us an aide-mémoire that the death of someone that we are close to doesn’t change his or her death, nor is it seen any different than a person we aren’t close to. This quote is a representation that the other has portrayed in words to try and tell the readers to accept life how it is, no matter what happens, it all happens for a