"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference." (209)
This quote appears a few times throughout the novel. Not to mention the fact that I have heard it more times than I can count after going to a Catholic School for thirteen years. However, this quote is especially applicable to Billy. In this instance, it is on a locket on Montana's neck. Earlier in the book it was on the wall of his office. I think that this is probably a flashback and possibly the first time he read it. I think that when he saw it there, he realized that it made sense. It applied to him, so he never wanted to forget it. There is also the possibility that this was just a subtle reminder of what he already had hanging in his office. I am a little unsure of where he is in time at this moment. Anyways, this quote applies to all of us, but now I will describe how it pertains to Billy. Billy cannot change that he was in war. He cannot change that he has watched his friends and countless other victims die. He can change the way he lives his own life when he is home. He can serve his country and community to the best of his ability. He can be an example of kindness in a world full of hatred and violence. He needs to realize the difference. He needs to focus on what he can change rather than reflecting and despising a past that will never change. He needs to have the courage to live a good life and wisdom to understand that the past is the past so that he can move on and live the present.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five: 9
"There address was this: "Schlacthof-funf." Schlacthof meant slaughterhouse. Funf was good old five."
This post will be a reaction. At the tail end of the sixth chapter appears the title of the novel. I think this is always a good thing to reflect upon. Why is it mentioned now? Why is this the title of the novel? I will now give my take on the two questions. I think that it is mentioned now because it is getting towards the end of the novel, and it needs to show up some place. Also, and probably more importantly, it comes up right before readers experience the story of the plane crash that did some damage to Billy's brain. I think it shows up now because it is the last clear memory that Billy has of the war. It is engrained on his brain. This was also part of the war that particularly stuck with Billy because this is where he was staying when the bombing took place. It is a place he will never forget because of the experience of the bombing of Dresden that he survived. This is the title of the novel because the novel is showing the devastation of World War II as well as elaborating on the effects such a war has on soldiers when they are done serving. This location is what Billy had on his mind most. It is where he was during that fateful bombing. It is the location he spat out as his address after the plane crash. This is where he truly experienced the horror and devastation of war.
This post will be a reaction. At the tail end of the sixth chapter appears the title of the novel. I think this is always a good thing to reflect upon. Why is it mentioned now? Why is this the title of the novel? I will now give my take on the two questions. I think that it is mentioned now because it is getting towards the end of the novel, and it needs to show up some place. Also, and probably more importantly, it comes up right before readers experience the story of the plane crash that did some damage to Billy's brain. I think it shows up now because it is the last clear memory that Billy has of the war. It is engrained on his brain. This was also part of the war that particularly stuck with Billy because this is where he was staying when the bombing took place. It is a place he will never forget because of the experience of the bombing of Dresden that he survived. This is the title of the novel because the novel is showing the devastation of World War II as well as elaborating on the effects such a war has on soldiers when they are done serving. This location is what Billy had on his mind most. It is where he was during that fateful bombing. It is the location he spat out as his address after the plane crash. This is where he truly experienced the horror and devastation of war.
Slaughterhouse-Five: 8
"It was about an Earthling man and woman who were kidnapped by extra-terrestrials. They were put on display in a zoo on a plane called Zircon-212." (201)
This quote shows paralellism in the novel. The event being paralleled is Billy's own time traveling experience. Billy is kidnapped and kept in a zoo on the planet Tralfamadore. Later, a woman, Montana Wildhack, is also transported to the planet. Both societies of extra-terrestrials are interested in watching the humans. Billy and Montana are constantly being observed to see how they react to certain things, how they interact with each other, how they reproduce, and basically how they live as humans. Similarly, the Zircon-212 creatures watch the humans to see how they react to playing the stock market. Both circumstances seem strange. I am not sure of the significance of the parallel. The first thing that comes to my mind is that the author is showing us that Billy is putting himself into the novels he reads in the phsychiatric hospital because he doesn't want to live in his own life. Maybe Billy "time travels" to escape the present and who he really is because he doesn't want to remember the past. Billy puts himself into novel like plots and changes details because he would rather live that life than the one he did.
This quote shows paralellism in the novel. The event being paralleled is Billy's own time traveling experience. Billy is kidnapped and kept in a zoo on the planet Tralfamadore. Later, a woman, Montana Wildhack, is also transported to the planet. Both societies of extra-terrestrials are interested in watching the humans. Billy and Montana are constantly being observed to see how they react to certain things, how they interact with each other, how they reproduce, and basically how they live as humans. Similarly, the Zircon-212 creatures watch the humans to see how they react to playing the stock market. Both circumstances seem strange. I am not sure of the significance of the parallel. The first thing that comes to my mind is that the author is showing us that Billy is putting himself into the novels he reads in the phsychiatric hospital because he doesn't want to live in his own life. Maybe Billy "time travels" to escape the present and who he really is because he doesn't want to remember the past. Billy puts himself into novel like plots and changes details because he would rather live that life than the one he did.
Slaughterhouse-Five: 7
"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." (146)
This quote is dramatic irony and an understatement all in one. There is irony in the fact that the Englishmen is telling the American soldiers leaving for Dresden that there is no need to worry for their safety from bombs. The audience knows from historical knowledge as well as from Billy's flashbacks that the city of Dresden does in fact get bombed. The purpose of this irony is to show readers the unsuspecting nature the Americans had while in Dresden. They did not have the slightest clue that a bomb would be dropped right over their heads. I think this also is a symbol for a war as a whole. The American soldiers and soldiers from other countries as well never knew what their enemy had planned. The whole idea of war is to catch the enemy off guard and kill their soldiers. I would think that no matter where in Europe the soldiers were, they should at least be conscious that there is a possibility that a bomb could be dropped on their heads. The understatement is that the Englishman goes on to say that there are no war industries or troops of importance. Apparently there was something of importance in Dresden or it would not have been bombed. I don't think that bombs were commodities that could be wasted on barren fields.
This quote is dramatic irony and an understatement all in one. There is irony in the fact that the Englishmen is telling the American soldiers leaving for Dresden that there is no need to worry for their safety from bombs. The audience knows from historical knowledge as well as from Billy's flashbacks that the city of Dresden does in fact get bombed. The purpose of this irony is to show readers the unsuspecting nature the Americans had while in Dresden. They did not have the slightest clue that a bomb would be dropped right over their heads. I think this also is a symbol for a war as a whole. The American soldiers and soldiers from other countries as well never knew what their enemy had planned. The whole idea of war is to catch the enemy off guard and kill their soldiers. I would think that no matter where in Europe the soldiers were, they should at least be conscious that there is a possibility that a bomb could be dropped on their heads. The understatement is that the Englishman goes on to say that there are no war industries or troops of importance. Apparently there was something of importance in Dresden or it would not have been bombed. I don't think that bombs were commodities that could be wasted on barren fields.
Slaughterhouse-Five: 6
"The boots fit perfectly. Billy Pilgrim was Cinderella, and Cinderella was Billy Pilgrim." (145)
This quote is a metaphor. Billy Pilgrim is not literally Cinderella. The metaphor is used to make a bigger comparison than the fact that Billy is wearing the boots that have been painted to be the glass slippers in the English soldiers' rendition of Cinderalla. I think the comparison that is being made here is that Billy Pilgrim has defied odds just as Cinderella did. Billy Pilgrim is the Cinderella story of World War II. He was not built to be a soldier. He doesn't have the discipline to be a soldier. But somehow, Billy Pilgrim lives through the war even when people much better off have become victims. I think this shows that Billy has some special purpose in life because he never loses even when all odds are stacked against him. What I don't get is why. Billy seems to luck into all his good fortune. He doesn't try particularly hard to stay alive, it just happens. It is like he is just a spectator in the war.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slaughterhouse Five: 5
"Von der Kuppel der Frauenkirche sah ich diese leidigen Truemmer zwischen die schoene staedtische Ordnung hineingesaet; da ruehmte mir der Kuester die Kunst des Baumeisters, welcher Kirche und Kuppel auf einen so unerwuenschten Fall schon eingerichtet und bombenfest erbaut hatte." (18)
This is another reaction blog. What is the point of the German? I get that is was describing the ruins of Dresden after the bombings and devastation, but why is it in another language. I realize that it is Goete's language and he is the one who said this, but couldn't the author have translated it for the english-speaking audience. I mean, I take German and didn't even understand it all. I am sure that those who don't take german just skipped this paragraph because even if it were relevant, they wouldn't understand it. The German influences on the plot of the novel are immense which makes sense because that is the general setting of the war part of the novel. Also, the war part of the novel is the most prevalent because it is the general backbone of the story and what has led to everything else like the flashbacks and alien abductions.
This is another reaction blog. What is the point of the German? I get that is was describing the ruins of Dresden after the bombings and devastation, but why is it in another language. I realize that it is Goete's language and he is the one who said this, but couldn't the author have translated it for the english-speaking audience. I mean, I take German and didn't even understand it all. I am sure that those who don't take german just skipped this paragraph because even if it were relevant, they wouldn't understand it. The German influences on the plot of the novel are immense which makes sense because that is the general setting of the war part of the novel. Also, the war part of the novel is the most prevalent because it is the general backbone of the story and what has led to everything else like the flashbacks and alien abductions.
Slaughterhouse Five: 4
"The Englishmen had known for twelve hours that the Americans were on their way. They had never had guests before, and they went to work like darling elves, sweeping, mopping, cooking, baking- making mattresses of straw and burlap bags, setting tabels, putting party favors at each place." (95)
The part of the novel about the Englishmen really surprised me. I was not aware of the Germans being nice to anyone in the war, but apparently they nearly worshipped these men. The life that the English prisoners are living is in sharp contrast to all other POWs who are hardly fed, kept in train cars because of lack of room, and have no supplies and bad clothes and shoes. It seems as though these people were better off than the german soldiers and guards which doesn't really make sense. Also, it seems as though these Englishmen are having a good time as prisoners. They eat lovely meals because they have large stashes of supplies and food. They have plays and feasts because they can. They act as if they aren't prisoners of war. Although this is puzzling for me, it may have been to their benefit. Obviously the soldiers kept them around because of there massive connections to food that was becoming scarce. Without a chance at being killed, it makes sense that they would just live wall wihtout a care in the world because if they worried about what was going on elsewhere or even within their own camp, they may be devastated by war.
The part of the novel about the Englishmen really surprised me. I was not aware of the Germans being nice to anyone in the war, but apparently they nearly worshipped these men. The life that the English prisoners are living is in sharp contrast to all other POWs who are hardly fed, kept in train cars because of lack of room, and have no supplies and bad clothes and shoes. It seems as though these people were better off than the german soldiers and guards which doesn't really make sense. Also, it seems as though these Englishmen are having a good time as prisoners. They eat lovely meals because they have large stashes of supplies and food. They have plays and feasts because they can. They act as if they aren't prisoners of war. Although this is puzzling for me, it may have been to their benefit. Obviously the soldiers kept them around because of there massive connections to food that was becoming scarce. Without a chance at being killed, it makes sense that they would just live wall wihtout a care in the world because if they worried about what was going on elsewhere or even within their own camp, they may be devastated by war.
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