Slaughter House Five Analysis

Slaughter House Five/The Children's Crusade is a novel that is highly centered around the bombing of Dresden. On the nights of February 13th and 14th the city in Germany was air raided by United States air forces. In four raids 13,000 heavy bombers dropped more than 3,900 tons of high explosive bombs resulting in the destruction of the city and 24000-40000 civilian casualties. Kurt Vonnegut's novel was based upon his own experiences as a prisoner of war during the bombing. Kurt Vonnegut was whiteness to these tragic events but was spared. Through this novel Vonnegut explores the notion why he was spared and strives to answer the question of, 'Why me?' Throughout he protagonist Billy Pilgrim, whom was also tormented by his survival attempts to reconcile his guilt from surviving the bombings. We learn that Billy and Vonnegut's question cannot be answered because as Vonnegut suggests, war is not logical or just and therefore the question cannot be given an answer because there is no justification, validation or reason for the brutal killings or survival of innocent people. The Tralfamadorians- {alien like creatures whom look similar to a toilet plunger} give Billy/Vonnegut a sense of freedom from their guilt, Billy learns to no longer feel sympathy for death and injustice and learns that nothing can be changed, past present or future. He learns that moments are set in time and are continuous as well as not alterable. Vonnegut's view of the world is portrayed throughout and shapes the novel as a book with purpose, not only for Vonnegut's justification and quest for an answer to life's inane problems and situations, but a lesson and moral, example and introduction to a new way to perceive tragic events. It is an anti war book that reflects the injustices and meaninglesness of life. Vonnegut's satiric tone gives the book a humorous quality. Slaughter House Five is a good book, with an important moral, at times a bit tricky to understand concepts and keep up with Billy's time travelling adventures but is definitely worth the read.