Saturday, August 4, 2012
Chapter 10: The Theme of Simplicity
I guess Vonnegut kept his promise after all, the book ended just like he said, with the bird asking, "poo-tee-weet?" This is fitting because just as it is referenced in that first chapter, there is nothing smart to say about massacre. I feel a sense that a central theme of even something simple as a bird talking, can seem as sane a the talk of war and killing other human beings in the process. Similarly to this bird though, Vonnegut knows that somebody has to attempt to fill the void that silence leaves behind in the wake of tragedy. Even though sometimes words are meaningless and do nothing for us, they too, like us, were able to survive mass incinerations. Vonnegut proves that through knowledge and literature, something beautiful in awareness, can arrive through such pain and anquish, to inform people of the dire consequences that war brings. That is the pureness that this story brings, and that is what makes Vonnegut a phenomenal writer. A hero or a villian isn't required to inform people of danger, just a clever way of presenting information...even in something as simple as jumping through time or dreams or whatever your final verdict was in finishing this great book....this is jimmy cook signing off...thanks for tuning in!
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Vonnegut is the person who fills the void that silence leaves behind in the wake of tragedy. In chapter 1 Vonnegut compares himself to Lot's wife. Lot's wife is the only one in her family that looks back in the wake of horror. As a consequence she is turned into a pillar of salt. Although Vonnegut is like Lot's wife, his story is meant to teach his readers that war is evil. This anti-war book is a beautiful thing because it reminds us to think about the consequences of our actions. It is teaching us a lesson.
ReplyDeleteVonnegut is the person who fills the void that silence leaves behind in the wake of tragedy. In chapter 1 Vonnegut compares himself to Lot's wife. Lot's wife is the only one in her family that looks back in the wake of horror. As a consequence she is turned into a pillar of salt. Although Vonnegut is like Lot's wife, his story is meant to teach his readers that war is evil. This anti-war book is a beautiful thing because it reminds us to think about the consequences of our actions. It is teaching us a lesson.
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