"Rumfoord was thinking in a military manner: that an inconvenient person, one whose death he wished for very much, for practical reasons, was suffering from a repulsive disease." (p. 192)
Convenience. One word that makes all Americans jump for joy. In our society, we have endless amounts of convenience stores - for example, Walgreens, CVS, Target, McDonalds, Chick-fil-a, Marathon, etc, etc. The United States encourages laziness and apathy within society. We no longer have to work for what we need.
In Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut not only criticizes the war, but the American mindset as well. Some Americans are so self-centered that they want others to die in order for more convenience in their own lives. War encourages this American mindset - murder as a convenience. During war, the number one goal is to defeat the enemy. This comes at the cost of millions of lives. The more people murdered, the more successful the war. Killing is convenient during war because it causes war to end faster. But this convenience comes at a price - a price that no one thinks about during war - a loss of family.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five: Advertising
"'It's like advertising. You have to tell the truth in advertising, or you get into trouble.'" (p. 171)
In this part of the novel, Trout tricks a woman into believing that everything he writes about actually happens. This is ironic because Trout is a science-fiction author. Obviously, his stories about aliens and time travel are not actually true. However, the lady believes him and intelligently states the quote above.
American ads are full of lies and dirty tricks. Almost everyday, I am the LUCKY winner on at least one website. Is it too good to be true? Of course. In our modern world, advertising is never truthful. Businesses constantly push ads into our face hoping to catch at least one person off guard to make a quick buck. Why do Americans allow this to happen? Once again, it all comes down to money. Deceiving ads encourage people to spend more money causing a boost in the economy. Modern American thinking says: "If it's good for most Americans, it's great for everyone!" Sure, the United States was established to protect the common good, but you must be smart/lucky enough to avoid falling into the minority. Interesting...
In this part of the novel, Trout tricks a woman into believing that everything he writes about actually happens. This is ironic because Trout is a science-fiction author. Obviously, his stories about aliens and time travel are not actually true. However, the lady believes him and intelligently states the quote above.
American ads are full of lies and dirty tricks. Almost everyday, I am the LUCKY winner on at least one website. Is it too good to be true? Of course. In our modern world, advertising is never truthful. Businesses constantly push ads into our face hoping to catch at least one person off guard to make a quick buck. Why do Americans allow this to happen? Once again, it all comes down to money. Deceiving ads encourage people to spend more money causing a boost in the economy. Modern American thinking says: "If it's good for most Americans, it's great for everyone!" Sure, the United States was established to protect the common good, but you must be smart/lucky enough to avoid falling into the minority. Interesting...
Slaughterhouse-Five: The Money Tree
"Trout, incidentally, had written a book about a money tree. It had twenty-dollar bills for leaves. Its flowers were government bonds. Its fruit was diamonds. It attracted human beings who killed each other around the roots and made very good fertilizer. So it goes." (p. 167)
When thinking about war, what is the main cause? Many times we think about disagreements or territorial issues as the cause of war; however, the main root to all wars is money. Money motivates people to make horrible, impulsive decisions. War is one of those not well thought out decisions.
The image of a money tree is the perfect symbol for this novel. In our modern society, people basically worship money as if it provides us with oxygen. But really, money is not what keeps the world ticking. It actually causes more destruction then it prevents. I like how the "fruit" of this money tree is the diamonds. Fruit is considered the most valuable and useful part of the tree. Just as fruit, humans consider diamonds to be essential to a successful life. Vonnegut emphasizes money as the cause of war in the last sentence of the excerpt. Again, humans are dehumanized by the author stating that humans make good fertilizer. During war, ethical principles are thrown out the window. Only positive effects are emphasized while the negatives remain hidden.
When thinking about war, what is the main cause? Many times we think about disagreements or territorial issues as the cause of war; however, the main root to all wars is money. Money motivates people to make horrible, impulsive decisions. War is one of those not well thought out decisions.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five: Machine
"Tralfamadorians, of course, say that every creature and plant in the Universe is a machine. It amuses them that so many Earthlings are offended by the idea of being machines." (Slaughterhouse-Five p. 154)
This quote connects to the theme of dehumanization. Vonnegut repeatedly dehumanizes his fellow humans, but most especially through the Tralfamaodrians, Billy's alien friends. The aliens view humans almost as if they are in a glass cage for inspection. Kind of creepy, but so it goes.
During war, what characterizes humans as machines? To begin, all soldiers wear the same exact clothing making them appear to be the exact same on the surface. When in formation, all personality is lost - soldiers are one unit, one team. They march in the exact same way, mimicking machines in a factory repeatedly doing the same motion. Finally, soldiers follow order without question. Machines do the same - humans press a button, a machine does the job. During a war, a commander says a command, the soldiers follow.
Does war really make humans into machines? No. But from the outside, Earthlings probably do appear to be machines. Vonnegut is pointing out how unnatural war is to the human race. War changes humans into something they are not meant to be.
This quote connects to the theme of dehumanization. Vonnegut repeatedly dehumanizes his fellow humans, but most especially through the Tralfamaodrians, Billy's alien friends. The aliens view humans almost as if they are in a glass cage for inspection. Kind of creepy, but so it goes.
During war, what characterizes humans as machines? To begin, all soldiers wear the same exact clothing making them appear to be the exact same on the surface. When in formation, all personality is lost - soldiers are one unit, one team. They march in the exact same way, mimicking machines in a factory repeatedly doing the same motion. Finally, soldiers follow order without question. Machines do the same - humans press a button, a machine does the job. During a war, a commander says a command, the soldiers follow.
Does war really make humans into machines? No. But from the outside, Earthlings probably do appear to be machines. Vonnegut is pointing out how unnatural war is to the human race. War changes humans into something they are not meant to be.
Slaughterhouse-Five: Children!
"The United States of America has been Balkanized, has been divided into twenty petty nations so that it will never again be a threat to world peace." (Slaugtherhouse-Five p. 142)
When my brother and I were little, we always had the same toys. But one Christmas, my mom decided to buy my brother a stuffed puppy. Instead of getting me the same one, my mom bought a stuffed cat (I know, a cat). I cried and cried because I wanted the puppy, not the stupid cat. My mom even tried to buy me a "similar" dog, but it just wasn't the same.
This same situation can be applied to modern war. Scary, isn't it? During World War I, the Central Powers divided Europe into little pieces. In turn, they took part of Germany away. Later, the piece we told Hitler he could not have, he still wanted for himself. Obviously, this led to a second war due to a conflict of interest.
In the quote above, Vonnegut is trying to prove that dividing nations does not, and never will, cause world peace. Ironically, dividing peoples only creates more bitterness and hatred. With twenty nations, there are twenty leaders and governments who all believe they are right. This creates turmoil which leads to war. The Central Powers never truly solved anything - they created a bigger problem.
When my brother and I were little, we always had the same toys. But one Christmas, my mom decided to buy my brother a stuffed puppy. Instead of getting me the same one, my mom bought a stuffed cat (I know, a cat). I cried and cried because I wanted the puppy, not the stupid cat. My mom even tried to buy me a "similar" dog, but it just wasn't the same.
This same situation can be applied to modern war. Scary, isn't it? During World War I, the Central Powers divided Europe into little pieces. In turn, they took part of Germany away. Later, the piece we told Hitler he could not have, he still wanted for himself. Obviously, this led to a second war due to a conflict of interest.
In the quote above, Vonnegut is trying to prove that dividing nations does not, and never will, cause world peace. Ironically, dividing peoples only creates more bitterness and hatred. With twenty nations, there are twenty leaders and governments who all believe they are right. This creates turmoil which leads to war. The Central Powers never truly solved anything - they created a bigger problem.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five: Cinderelly
"The Blue Fairy Godmother was embarrassed, and angry, too. "If I'd known was fighting a chicken," he said, "I wouldn't have fought so hard." (Slaughterhouse-Five p. 127)
Contrasting imagery adds to the irony of this novel. In the excerpt above, an Englishman feels bad for beating up a malnourished American. Later, he justifies his actions by calling Americans weak, dirty, and thieving. For the time being, the Englishman feels remorse.
A "Blue Fairy Godmother" contrasts greatly with the tough Englishman. This defines the foreign soldiers as complex characters. Although they are there to keep the camp running, they also have a soft side. For example, this particular Englishman starred in the soldier's rendition of Cinderella as the fairy godmother. This shows that war does not change the nature of humans; it only changes surface emotions and thinking. Naturally, humans are not meant to be pitted against one another; however, war can change thinking.
Contrasting imagery adds to the irony of this novel. In the excerpt above, an Englishman feels bad for beating up a malnourished American. Later, he justifies his actions by calling Americans weak, dirty, and thieving. For the time being, the Englishman feels remorse.
A "Blue Fairy Godmother" contrasts greatly with the tough Englishman. This defines the foreign soldiers as complex characters. Although they are there to keep the camp running, they also have a soft side. For example, this particular Englishman starred in the soldier's rendition of Cinderella as the fairy godmother. This shows that war does not change the nature of humans; it only changes surface emotions and thinking. Naturally, humans are not meant to be pitted against one another; however, war can change thinking.
Slaughterhouse-Five: Connections
"From this moment on, He will punish horribly anybody who torments a bum who has no connections!" (Slaughterhouse-Five p. 110)
This novel is written as an antiwar novel; however, it also contains other criticisms dealing with hypocrisy. Religion is the most prominent example of human hypocrisy. Christians everywhere claim to be "servants to the community," but how many people actually follow through with this commitment? In the novel, the aliens tell the story of Jesus' crucifixion from their eyes. To them, Jesus is killed because he does not have connections. Connections could relate to many things, but I believe this is referring to a connection with authority. Since Jesus did not associate with the Sanhedrin, the people condemned him to death. Not one person stood up for what they believed in to save him. In the modern world, connections with authority always help to create materialistic success; therefore, if the president and monetary leaders believe war is best for the world, everyone else goes along with it. Not one person dares to stray from the norm in order to fit in with society. Humans are too passive when dealing with the issues. Instead of relying on connections, people should try to be an individual.
Although the Tralfamadorians do not experience Earth, the are still able to make truthful generalizations about the human population. Pretty sad...
Although the Tralfamadorians do not experience Earth, the are still able to make truthful generalizations about the human population. Pretty sad...
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