Paper Summary:

The paper provides an overview of some of the main themes and in Kurt Vonnegut's "Welcome to the Monkey House", "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow", "Slapstick", and "Cat's Cradle". The paper highlights the theme of life and reality being extremely complex and often seemingly ambiguous as well as the message of truth and falsehood and their differences. The paper also points out the way that Vonnegut critiques or satirizes government, society and conventional religion. The paper reaches the conclusion that Vonnegut is often more pessimistic than optimistic about the potential of human nature.

Outline:
Introduction
Corruption of Society/Government
How Society Views the Intellectual
The Search for Meaning, Truth and Identity
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"A central focus on many of Vonnegut's works is the exposure of the failures, inadequacies and illusions that exists in society, which is propagated by many governments. This is especially clear from many of the short stories in Welcome to the Monkey House (1968). Among the twenty-five stories in this collection is a science -fiction classic entitled Harrison Bergeron. This story basically deals with the issue of human equality. In this work the author creates a world where difference has been outlawed and all humans are required to be equal. The story in facts suggests that enforced equality is not liberation or freedom but is a form of enslavement and conformity."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Klinkowitz, J. (1971). Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and the Crime of His Times. Critique, 12(3), 38-53. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=95257783
• (2000). Kurt Vonnegut: Images and Representations (M. Leeds & P. J. Reed, Ed.). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=27675503
• Marvin, T. F. (2002). Kurt Vonnegut: A Critical Companion. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=101359299
• Reed P. Kurt Vonnegut's Fantastic Faces. Retrieved February 20, 2009 fromhttp://www.vonnegut.com/artist.asp
• Reed, P. J. (1997). The Short Fiction of Kurt Vonnegut. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=23418859

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