Slaughterhouse Five - Tone and Overall Feeling

Even from the first page of Slaughterhouse Five, the tone was not something I had expected. I have never read anything like this. The whole tone throughout the book was very blunt. With this being a war book, you would expect many adjectives and tragic descriptions making the events sound either better or worse than they actually were. However, that is not how it turned out.

Each paragraph of the book is short, but never lacks action. Vonnegut often leaves little room to completely describe what is going on. For example, he explains once “the stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.” This telling the story gives the novel a very dry tone. When the narrator says things such as that, it makes him seem like he feels somewhat emotionless about the book’s events. However, the narrator appears to lack emotion because what he is seeing is so traumatizing. In the end, the dry and sometimes blunt tone of the novel actually makes the war, and Billy Pilgrim’s life seem so real.

The dry tone makes the war seem worse because the lack of description requires you to imagine the environment of horrible tragedies yourself. What this does is give you an element of shock and surprise. When reading, you are almost never forced to see the entire situation yourself. The straight forward description is so surprising to you because this subject is normally so full of emotion. Overall, the dry tone of the book did not take away from the horrors of death, war, and confusion. It just showed how much those things change people’s lives for the worst. This will give you the honest truth of it all. The tone really gives the book the true feelings of war and what comes along with it.
I never imagined to read such an honest appealing book. I felt the true tregedy coming along with Vonnegut's feelings toward war because he had to really face the pain of it all. as Vonnegut says in the introduction, “There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters…" It does give us a moving portrait of your average soldier fighting a war he doesn’t understand, seeing things he cannot comprehend. Yet somehow he is supposed to continue living life as if massacres are somehow normal, acceptable things.

And so it goes.

Poo-tee-weet?

"The last word in Slaughterhouse Five and a symbol for peace and beauty but also for an unanswerable question parallel to the tragedies of war."

Billy(the main chararcter of Slaughterhouse Five) is reflecting back on his life and seeing the good in an overall bad situation. One of these positive memories of his life he looks back on is the trip to Dresden with O’Hare a few decades after the war.Vonnegut change up Billy’s mindset for once and Billy is thinking positively about his life. I think this is showing what Vonnegut is trying to say in his feelings after war about everything. He believes war is bad and can do all these horrible things shown throughout the entire book, but at the end of the day one must look at the positive side of things too.

  Billy travels back to the time after war has ended. Po-tee-weet, the last word of this book, is a pretty famous one and is a major symbol in this book. Billy has just been freed from the chains of wartime and violence. A huge weight has been lifted off his chest. As he is walking around as a free man, he hears birds singing to him. This could mean absolutely nothing but there is probably some deeper meaning that Vonnegut is trying to say here. In my mind soft, sweet sound of bird chirping could mean Billy has just been freed from after the war was over. It could symbolize all the beauty in this world that is overshadowed by the violence. Although, it also is seen as a symbol of a negative thought. That, nothing about war is even able to be described. The jabbering bird symbolizes the lack of anything intelligent to say about war. Birdsong rings out alone in the silence after a massacre. The author’s point is made by the word "birds." Birds bring to mind innocence, peace, and calm. After the Dresden massacre, there was nothing because everything was destroyed. This brings to mind the image of a deserted wasteland filled with nothingness. The author’s attitude is very sarcastic because he cannot even understand it himself. When Vonnegut writes"and it always is," his words create emphasis on "except for the birds." There is irony in the fact that the author uses a bird tweeting to show the innocence of it after a massacre. There cannot be anything good to say. I think this is a perfect representation of the book overall. It is very negative, but this is how Vonnegut oversees war and everything that comes along with it. 

Slaughterhouse-Five, Warfare

Throughout the book Slaughterhouse Five, you could find many themes involved from writer Kurt Vonnegut. One that sticks out the most is warfare, considering this book is the reality of war and what it does to you.  

Slaughterhouse-Five is not about heroes and joyous times of war. It's about the privates, most of them who don't want to be, and shouldn't be on the battlefield. It's about prisoners of war, men who have been deprived of any kind of control over where they go and what they do. There is nothing what so ever romantic about war in Slaughterhouse-Five. It is actually portrayed that the villains of the book are the ones who continue to romanticize violence and killing. For Vonnegut, war is not about glory and heroism, but shown as an uncontrolled disaster for anyone or anything involved. The horrors of the war are so overwhelming that Vonnegut doubts his ability to write about them. Directly in the first chapter he says "It is so short and jumbled and jangled... because there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre." In reality, he is correct. There is nothing pretty and sweet about war. The book is unique in style and structure, which shows the anti-war theme. It shows many elements of literature,
including black humor, or dark comedy, which is a type of humor that amuses the audience with something that would normally be inappropriate to laugh at. In this case, war would serve as the subject. Kurt Vonnegut was subject to the life-changing effects of WWII, as a soldier and POW in Dresden, Germany. The many aspects of war, mainly the firebombing of Dresden, influenced Vonnegut greatly. Because of these events Kurt Vonnegut was inspired to write Slaughterhouse-Five, where he explains his feelings against war. Vonnegut best explains these feelings to his audience through many methods, but mainly through the novel's main character Billy Pilgrim, along with the Tralfamadorians who are alien like from another world that Billy time travels to, and in the themes, writing style, and structure of the book.

If you wanted the blunt honest truth of war, and what it does to you, this is the book to read. Vonnegut's feelings against war seem to be consistent both in the book and in his life. For example, according to Novels for Students, Vonnegut claims that "anyone who seeks glory and heroism in war is deluded." 

1984-Winston is Left in the Dark

Facts of 1984

Did you predict Winston would get caught from the beginning?

The government can really destroy you with their best abilities and this is their point of making you follow their rules and propaganda. The party completely destroys Winston. He was broken. The whole point to his torture was to break him and to destroy his sense of self, to make him not only an example to others but to crush his identity and make him happy to be broken. In the end, his joy was the complete destruction of his mind, his ultimate defeat and the victory of the state over the individual himself. One of the party's main goals was to take away Julia and make Winston go against her. He is released to her, but he feels absolutely nothing for her. We see Julia at the very end of the book as well, and can get a picture of her physical appearance, and she mentions things so you can infer what happened to her. "her face was sallower, and there was a long scar, partly hidden by the hair, across her forehead and temple...her waist had grown thicker, and, in a surprising way, had stiffened...her body felt like [a corpse]." It is very sickening that they had the capability to do this. A great number of memories appear in Winston's head. At first he remembers a day from his childhood, before his mother disappeared. It was a memory of joy, and Winston "pushed the picture out of his mind. It was a false memory. He was troubled by false memories occasionally." Or at least that is what they tell him.

Of course, this was a real memory, but he has now been "trained" to believe in only the thoughts that go with the Party's goals, which means forgetting all that made Winston unique because no one can be an individual person. They say no one at the Ministry of Love murdered Winston, even though O'Brien threatened that Winston would eventually be shot. But O'Brien and the Ministry of Love did murder Winston. They murdered who he really was. At the end of the book, Winston isn't someone who can think for himself. He is like a puppet for the party. He is now never going to be the same Winston, now loving Big Brother forever. Winston's self is the part that makes him human and unique, the real Winston that is dead and not coming back. 

It is sad to say all all around the world, parts of 1984 have become and are becoming a reality of todays society. As shown in 1984, there is no loyalty. While torturing Winston, O'Brien says “No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend... there will be no loyalty except, for loyalty for the party. There will no love, except the love for Big Brother.” Although, we do trust our loved ones, many do have loyalty/trust issues due to lack of qualities some people have because that is how their lives have always been. 

Overall, what did you think about 1984? Do you think it is becoming a sad reality from 1984 turning into today's world?

1984- "How Easily are we Actually Influenced by Propaganda?"

                                                                                                What does propaganda mean to you?
According to dictionary.com :
propaganda- information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

So, how easily do you think you are influenced by propaganda?
It could be different for everyone. Some people can be very gullible and give in to what they are being persuaded to believe. On the other hand, some are very stubborn to their beliefs and will not change their mind easily on propaganda. Propaganda can easily persuade you with your emotions. A personal issue is brought to your attention and you are all about it. Well, in 1984 propaganda is used to keep the public controlled, using Big Brother as their major propaganda, and turn them against Goldstien. The main chararter Winston, seems very confused by propaganda in the book. He is very unsure of what to believe. He is one of the only ones who does not just believe in all the things the government tells him and goes along with it. He knows that there is something to it. One morning at work, Winston sees a girl fall and when he helps her up, he gets a note that says "I love you." Feelings like these aren't allowed in Oceania. Winston is unsure to believe the girl because what if she is just a sky seeking on his behavior? Eventually Winston does against the proganda and desides to meet her in Victory Square where they hide from the telescreens and movement/talk of the citizens. She tells him that her name is Julia, and rips off her Junior Anti-Sex League sash. Winston becomes curious as they make their way into the woods, and they make love. The experience he goes through is just like the sexual encounter that Winston had dreamed of. Winston asks Julia if she has done this before, and she exclaims that she has many of times. He tells her that the more men she has been with, the more he loves her because it means that more citizens are commiting crimes also. Winston tells Julia about a walk he took with his ex-wife Katherine, and he thought about pushing her off of a cliff. He says it would not have mattered whether he pushed her or not, because it is impossible to win against the force of government. Along with all of this rebellion in Winston, Julia, and it seems many others against the government, there are still all the ones following the rules. They all are lost in these lies that they are told and influenced by propaganda. So easily, we are influenced if we are "told the truth." We would not even know what the real truth is. 
They are told that
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
WAR IS PEACE
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
 So this is what they constantly believe. This is their truth and who knew it wasn't actually the truth? This is their form of double speak. The party is convincing the citizens of Oceania that what they want, is what they already have. Propaganda is brainwash. The citizens of Oceania are brainwashed to think that the party is really there to help them, and to make them happy. “WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” and “Big Brother is Watching You” are both examples of doublespeak. These uses of propaganda prevent rebellion of the citizens of Oceania because they believe that this society is the ideal society. They believe they are protected, and that they could not be happier. Propaganda is the Party’s deadliest weapon of control, but they do not know this because they are so badly brainwashed. In any way, we can so easily be persuaded into propaganda. Sometimes we do not even see it. 

What is propaganda in todays society, and how easily do you think you can be persuaded into it without you even knowing?

1984-How Does "Big Brother" Connect to a Total Government?

Big Brother is Watching You

In George Orwell's book "1984" Big Brother is a fictional character or symbol throughout the book showing complete dictatorship. "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" is often quoted. It seems that "big brother" has the abuse of government power. He symbolizes reassurance for most people but in fact the face of big brother is an open threat “one cannot escape his gaze.” 1984 is trying to show that a totaltarian government is dangerous to you. Throughout the book, Orwell gives you the perfect totalitarian society of what life would be like and the most extreme realization of a modern-day government with absolute power. Orwell is trying to show that it was very possible that the happenings in this book would become a reality. That big brother would be watching you. For example, your government(known as big brother) would watch your every move. Sadly to say, this is becoming a reality. In today's society, it is not this harsh. Although, the government still tracks our whereabouts, phone calls, and other personal information. It is a scary reality of what the world is coming to today. Orwell also goes to great lengths to show you how terrifying and controlling big brother could get. Big Brother is the face of the Party, the leader behind the great power in this society. The best part is that they never come to confirm his actual existence yet. Is he real?  Maybe the Party just hired an intimidating looking male to make those posters portraying big brother. Big Brother serves as a God-like figure to the citizens of Oceania. He is a symbol of power and is seen as a knowing figure gazing into the lives of every citizen's life around. Everyone is expected to be loyal to him and follow his commands of control.
Working, eating, drinking, sleeping, talking, thinking, that all are controlled by the state. Any hint of obedience or dislike can be detected by many such as the Thought Police, telescreen, or even your children who will not hesitate to betray you to the authorities. Even language is modified in such ways that you cannot express yourself. Everyone seems to be afraid of big brother considering if you are caught betraying him, you aren't to be found again. No one knows what actually happens, but you no longer come back. There is no real truth in Oceania. The "truth" is what the state says it is. Black is white and 2+2=5, if the state says so. Winston, the protagonist and main character does not fall within this belief of this being the world. He experiences multiple thoughts that could cost him his life and he feels alone in his reason of thinking. He even goes as far as dangerously buying a diary from a shop and starts recording his different opinions and thoughts. This could cost Winston his life, but he doesn't seem to care as he is so confused on how "big brother" works. The novel focuses a lot on how many freedoms we take for granted have been removed, and this is a terrifying thought.

How does 1984 make you realize that we should not take our freedom for granted? Do you think there will ever become a point where "big brother is watching you?"

Will it All Turn Out Okay?

Montana's life turns out better than you'd think. In the end, she got her dream boy and it seems that that is all she really needed considering the way everything else turned out. Montana ended up marrying Bernardo, her high school sweetheart which is everything she hoped for. He was the only thing keeping her sane. Montana ended up staying in the city with her horrible family, although I am not sure why. Personally I do not like the way the book ended because it left a lot of unanswered questions that were confusing. If Montana moved away from her family and the city with Bernardo after high school than her life could have turned out much better. She says at the end of the book "New York City can't possibly continue on without us." Clearly she was too used to the city to actually leave. Maybe she was more of a city girl than I anticipated in the middle of the book. She says "We are the ones keeping it alive, I think. With our cigarettes and dyed hair and cursing and snoop sitting and coffee inhaling, aren't we the very essence of the city? The city and the impact of others changed her very much throughout the book into someone I consider, she isn't. She turned into a whole new person after everything she went through.

On the last page of the book, Montana makes a list of things to be grateful for: Bernardo Edition, which states "1. The way the city looks when you are holding hands with someone versus the way it looks when you are not. That it is beautiful either way. That it changes but it doesn't change. 2. How much can shift when you go from dirty blond to dirty pink.(when she died her hair pink, this is when Bernardo decided to first talk to her, to say her hair looked different but nice) The space between pretty and being loved, and not having to know which you actually are. 3. The things that didn't happen. The words I didn't say The promises I didn't keep. The undone. The things I didn't hold on to. The things I'll never know. The person I didn't become for you." Montana fell so hard in love with Bernardo that just one summer changed her whole life. 

After reading your whole book, how do you feel about it? Did it turn out how you predicted, or was it something unexpected? Did you generally like it, or was it not very interesting for you?

I liked my book overall, but I think there are many things that could have been changed that would have made the book a lot more interesting. I would not recommend this book to someone else though because it did drag on a bit/got boring. The ending was not good either, so overall it does not make it a good enough book to recommend. It did not get very good reviews, but I am glad I read it.