Fatalism in "Slaughterhouse-Five" Analytical Essay by Shaad
Fatalism in "Slaughterhouse-Five"
An analysis of Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" in relation to the themes of fatalism and determinism.
# 146963
| 1,017 words
| 2 sources
| APA
| 2010
| 
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Description:
The paper analyzes Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five", showing how he depicts the consequences of "static time", which describes the mental conditioning of a society nurtured on the philosophy of determinism. The paper stresses the autobiographical element, and how writing the novel becomes a therapeutic exercise for the author. In this way, the paper argues that Vonnegut is actually providing a critique of fatalism, and is not endorsing it.
From the Paper:
"The protagonist of Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim appears to be the alter ego of the author, but this is true only in a limited sense. Vonnegut draws heavily on his experiences in World War II, so that Billy goes through these same experiences, most significantly in his being trapped in the underground locker of a slaughter house for days while the city of Dresden suffers blanket bombing from the air. When Billy emerges he is met by the sight of utter destruction, and the experience has overwhelmed him to such a degree that he becomes "unstuck in time" (Vonnegut & Allen 1988, p. 57). In other words, everything else that he experiences throughout the rest of his life reflexively refers back to his experiences beneath the slaughter house."Sample of Sources Used:
- Vonnegut, K. (2001) Slaughterhouse-Five, New York, NY: Rosetta Books.
- Vonnegut, K. Allen, R. A. (1988) Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut, Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi.
Cite this Analytical Essay:
APA Format
Fatalism in "Slaughterhouse-Five" (2011, January 31)
Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/fatalism-in-slaughterhouse-five-146963/
MLA Format
"Fatalism in "Slaughterhouse-Five"" 31 January 2011.
Web. 25 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/fatalism-in-slaughterhouse-five-146963/>