"'I suppose they will all want dignity,' I said." (pg. 212)
This blog definitely enforces that all people deserved dignity. Even if they are Germans, Vonnegut shows how they deserve a certain respect for being a human being. This echoes in each character's life. However, the problem arises that not all receive the dignity that they deserve. In the bombings, completely innocent lives are lost. These people did nothing wrong except for the fact that they were German. War completely ignores this dignity. It kills indiscriminately. Vonnegut's anti-war theme rings out in this quote.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five
"One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters. But old Derby was a character now." (pg. 164)
For some reason, I absolutely loved this quote. It really makes me want to watch Saving Private Ryan. I think its because the quote echoes in that story too. Often times, its easier to just blend in with the crowd. In war, there is little point of getting to know someone because of the chance that one of you will die. Vonnegut gives us little description of the characters besides Billy. Most of them are dead by the end of the story. In Saving Private Ryan, many men have to risk their lives to save one, and most of them die in the mission. Both stories show how war not only kills soldiers but also affects the lives around them.
For some reason, I absolutely loved this quote. It really makes me want to watch Saving Private Ryan. I think its because the quote echoes in that story too. Often times, its easier to just blend in with the crowd. In war, there is little point of getting to know someone because of the chance that one of you will die. Vonnegut gives us little description of the characters besides Billy. Most of them are dead by the end of the story. In Saving Private Ryan, many men have to risk their lives to save one, and most of them die in the mission. Both stories show how war not only kills soldiers but also affects the lives around them.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Dramatic Irony
"You needn't worry about bombs, by the way. Dresden is an open city. It is undefended, and contains no war industries or troop concentrations of any importance." (pg. 146)
This quote is an example of dramatic irony. The characters (minus Billy because he's a time traveller or whatnot) believe that Dresden has a zero percent chance of being bombed. They believe that the Allied troops would aim for more important cities. The irony in this is the Dresden was one of the worst bombings in history. Its just this peaceful little city, and then all of a sudden, boom. Its gone. The reader knows this because of history and because both Vonnegut and Billy have told us. Also, this reinforces the theme of the destructiveness of war. Even though the citizens of Dresden should have been safe, the Allied troops bomb their city. No one knows the extent of the damage of a war until it is too late.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Motif
"So it goes." (pretty much every single page)
The phrase "so it goes" is repeated countless times in the novel. It is preceded by a death or some other terrible incident. The phrase is very nonchalant and unemotional. This is, however, not because the author does not care. The phrase signifies that all of these deaths are equal. It does not matter how the deaths happened. Someone is still dead. The tone of the phrase adds more weight to the deaths. By acting as if the deaths are not a big deal, it actually adds gravity to each event.
The phrase "so it goes" is repeated countless times in the novel. It is preceded by a death or some other terrible incident. The phrase is very nonchalant and unemotional. This is, however, not because the author does not care. The phrase signifies that all of these deaths are equal. It does not matter how the deaths happened. Someone is still dead. The tone of the phrase adds more weight to the deaths. By acting as if the deaths are not a big deal, it actually adds gravity to each event.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Theme
"When he finally came back, he told superior on the rim of the hole that there were dozens of bodies down there. They were sitting on benches. They were unmarked. So it goes." (pg. 214)
One of the major themes of this book is the atrocious effects of war. This prevalent in the bombings of Dresden. Even though Rumfoord says that the bombing was necessary, the description of the town and historical records show that it wasn't. It was the complete destruction of a city with little to no military value. In addition, in the quote, the bodies are unmarked. War does not discriminate between the guilty and the innocent. It is by chance that people live or die. Because of the War on Terrorism, I could literally get bombed right now sitting here. Even though I haven't done anything to the bomber, I would be killed all the same. As Mary notes in the beginning of the novel, the people killed in wars are just babies. War does not make exceptions.
One of the major themes of this book is the atrocious effects of war. This prevalent in the bombings of Dresden. Even though Rumfoord says that the bombing was necessary, the description of the town and historical records show that it wasn't. It was the complete destruction of a city with little to no military value. In addition, in the quote, the bodies are unmarked. War does not discriminate between the guilty and the innocent. It is by chance that people live or die. Because of the War on Terrorism, I could literally get bombed right now sitting here. Even though I haven't done anything to the bomber, I would be killed all the same. As Mary notes in the beginning of the novel, the people killed in wars are just babies. War does not make exceptions.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slaughterhouse Five - Blog 5
"That was I. That was me. That was the author of this book." (pg. 125)
I am definitely enjoying the style of Vonnegut's writing. It is very entertaining and easy to read. These types of passages in which he interjects himself into the story make the story seem as if it actually happened. His frankness and dry humor make readers think not only about the story, but about the meanings behind the story. From the very beginning, Vonnegut said that this book was an anti-war book. This theme is echoed throughout the story.
I am definitely enjoying the style of Vonnegut's writing. It is very entertaining and easy to read. These types of passages in which he interjects himself into the story make the story seem as if it actually happened. His frankness and dry humor make readers think not only about the story, but about the meanings behind the story. From the very beginning, Vonnegut said that this book was an anti-war book. This theme is echoed throughout the story.
Slaughterhouse Five - Blog 4
"There used to be a dog named Spot, but he died. So it goes. Billy had liked Spot a lot, and Spot had liked him." (pg. 62)
This book is full of randomness. The author randomly interjects into the story. Billy randomly travels in time. There isn't a very clear plot line. Little paragraphs like this seem to have no meaning. They seem to be random comments the author is making about Billy's life. However, these types of things are not random. Vonnegut's style in this novel makes it seem as if there are little random things. Each of these peculiarities about the novel mean something. This passage highlights Billy's loneliness in his life.
This book is full of randomness. The author randomly interjects into the story. Billy randomly travels in time. There isn't a very clear plot line. Little paragraphs like this seem to have no meaning. They seem to be random comments the author is making about Billy's life. However, these types of things are not random. Vonnegut's style in this novel makes it seem as if there are little random things. Each of these peculiarities about the novel mean something. This passage highlights Billy's loneliness in his life.
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