Slaughterhouse-Five By Kurt Vonnegut: Literary Analysis

The historical, science fiction novel Slaughterhouse-Five written by Kurt Vonnegut follows a man named Billy Pilgrim, who has become “unstuck in time” spending one moment in a year and then blinking only to find himself in another (Vonnegut, 29). However, the book consistently centers on Billy’s life in World War Two, as he witnesses one of the most considerable massacres in the history of Europe: “the fire-bombing of Dresden”, which killed nearly 135,000 people (Vonnegut, 128). Even though the story appears to lack a beginning, middle, and end, it does not. Billy’s life itself does not follow a consistent timeline within the novel; however his life during World War Two does happen chronologically, even though it is broken up by different time

The biggest motif would have to be “so it goes” written on almost every page, always following a death (Vonnegut, 2). This phrase balances all deaths, whether it be the annihilation of an entire city or the death of a “forty-year-old hobo” on a train (Vonnegut, 100). The short saying continuously reminds the reader of the dire irrevocability of death. At the end of Billy’s story after the war has finally ended a bird says to him “poo-tee-weet” symbolizing the lack of any intelligent thing to say about war (Vonnegut, 274). As a result of these, the book was a curious read compelling one to think about the meaning in every

The novel was inventive especially with the point-of-view and Vonnegut writing himself into the book. It was also historically accurate yet completely absurd at the same time making it a fascinating combination and a fun read. Every page brought a new, seemingly random, event of Billy Pilgrim’s life which gracefully connected in the end. Vonnegut writes with meticulous and striking detail despite the endless change of time and scenery. He intertwines meaningful, almost hidden, messages using unassuming symbols. Those who can handle the brutal, relentless subject of death should definitely give this book a read to experience the ruthless bombing of Dresden, a little known occurrence, and to experience World War Two as told accurately and