Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five - Essay Example

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut: Chapter 7-10 Chapter seven explores the philosophy of Tralfamadorians that reflects a principle in Einstein Physics. Einstein proposed that an object is described by four coordinates that include three spatial dimensions and time. He argued that one cannot know where an object is until he knows when it is. Kurt Vonnegut argues that Tralfamadorians see in four dimensions. The element of dimensional quality of perception is manifested when Billy encounters a series of rapid-fire time trips as he recovers from head injury.

In chapter eight, Billy finally realizes that he is hiding his secret history of trauma from himself. The focus on Billy’s self-awareness creates a crucial moment in his character development. This discovery paves the way for Billy to spread the Tralfamadorian gospel on earth. His recognition of the effect of Febs on his psyche demonstrates a great deal of self-awareness. The interaction of Billy and the historian in chapter nine demonstrates the interchangeable nature of history and fiction.

Despite his spurious stories of time travel and alien abduction, it is possible that Billy had been a soldier in World War II. My understanding of reality is confused by the things that Billy sees when he visits the bookstore in Times Square. There are books by Kilgore Trout in the store’s window. The books talk about aliens abducting a man. This is the most difficult thing to understand in this novel because I am left to wonder whether it a coincidence that Billy looks at the Trout book before he talks about his experience that is similar to what the book describes.

In the last chapter, the novel suggests that a bird-talk makes as much sense as the talk of anyone about war. The problem of dignity returns. Vonnegut talks about the equalizing power of death that brings dignity at high price. He shows how the war has made the idea of climax irrelevant. Work CitedVonnegut, Kurt. The Slaughterhouse Five. Available at https://7chan.org/lit/src/Kurt_Vonnegut_-_Slaughterhouse_Five.pdf