Banned Book

Before reading Slaughter House Five I was very intrigued because it was one of the most banned books because it tells the harsh truth of war. Why do you think people are so hurt when people make fun of sensitive situations? After finishing this book I was still kinda confused as to why people are so hurt by this book. Maybe it is because I myself agree with Kurt Vonnegut with the whole war is pointless idea. I am really surprised that so many people are up in arms about this book because it took a lot for me to fully understand it. The way Kurt Vonnegut write his feelings towards war is so subtle I wouldn't imagine everyone would fully comprehend what he is trying to say. Why do you guys think he wrote his emotions this way? He very easily could have came out and said war is bad because X and Y. But it isn't anywhere close to that. I honestly do not think I would have understood what Kurt was trying to say if we didn't discuss it everyday in class while reading it. He was so subtle with every symbolic story. Something would be put into half a sentence but they would low-key be explaining exactly how Kurt/ Billy felt about war. Also, why do you guys think he wrote the story in such messed up order? I thought that was interesting because in my opinion, it has something to say about war and its affects on a person. However, he still could have gotten his point across just telling the story of his life before, during, and after the war. The way he structured his story made it much more confusing for me atlas. He would tell a certain story in the beginning of the book but still find out small details by the end. I am thinking it is supposed to be a representation of reflecting on your past and learning from it, like i said in my previous blogs. But, what do you guys think? I also think that it was kind of set up so there was no real point in telling his stories. Just saying stuff because to me it was just a person talking, like their was no plot. Which also says something about Kurt's feeling towards war. I honestly think that it is amazing, to not only have the story tell how you feel but also the way the book is set up. I never really read anything that took symbolism so deeply and that is whyI enjoyed reading and analyzing Slaughter House five so much.

Reality of War

There was one specific moment that I really thought was a good example of how war is represented today. On page 65, Billy and Weary, along with the other men, walked to Germany. It was considered a "fabulous victory" and there was two people there in fur coats to capture the moment. Billy and Weary were in the back of the line so the film had run out by the time they passed the cameramen. Then it said " One of them ( the cameramen) singled out Billy's face for a moment, then focused at infinity again. There was a tiny plume of smoke at infinity. There was a battle there. People were dying there. So it goes." I feel like when Kurt said , " then he focused on infinity again" he meant that this cameraman didn't have to live with the burden of war or guilt. Which kind of correlates with my last blog on Slaughter House five. I believe since this man is only there to capture the moment he probably doesn't have to worry about forgiving himself for the cruel actions he did during war. Therefore he is just staring into infinity or the infinite possibilities he feels for the world because he is so carefree. However, the next line, " There was a battle there. People were dying there. So it goes." In my opinion he is stating that even if the cameraman is pulling off like he is carefree and is always optimistic there is always pain. There will always be pain in everyone no matter how much one denies or acts like there isn't any. Which is just like how war is represented today. Through movies and the media we may only see the glorified version but there is always pain.

Symbolism in SH5

Going into reading Slaughter House Five, I was a little apprehensive just because the story sounded so strange. Until our lit circles in school and I really analyzed the text did I begin to enjoy slaughter house five. My favorite thing about this book was probably all the symbolism. It was very subtle which made it difficult at times to see it. But to me, that's what made it fun. It was like you had to closely analyze each chapter to really understand Kurt's feelings towards war. I think my favorite subtle symbols was the whole "pillar of salt" story where the women looked back at Sodom, her town, and turned into a pillar of salt. I think this one detail in the book really encased what the whole book was trying to say. The girl got turned into  pillar of salt because she looked back on the past. Throughout the entire book Billy Pilgrim is reliving his past but cannot change anything. He just relives different parts and makes him think of other parts of his life which lives him with nothing to do but reflect on his past. Which I think is what Kurt Vonnegut believes you should do. Just brushing off your past is basically saying not taking responsibility for what you have done. And it is important to grow from your past which in my opinion is what Billy Pilgrim is trying to do but is not able to do. He repeatedly says he is "unstuck in time", maybe this meaning he is able to jump from time to time trying to be guilt free from his past actions and grow as a person from it. However, it may be difficult because of the affects of the war on him as a person and all war veterans.