As I was reading the first half of Chapter 5 I saw many instances where I couldn't tell if Vonnegut was being blatantly obvious or attempting subtlety and failing.
For instance, in chapter 1 Nancy is eating a Three Musketeers Bar, In chapter 2 we find out that Billy's group in the War was called the Three Musketeers, and in Chapter 5 Billy's wife to be is eating none other than a Three Musketeers Bar. Now, either Vonnegut really likes his chocolate covered fluffy whipped candy Bars or he is attempting to be subtle in showing how war is everywhere.
Another instance is when two separate people speak of how the War is the Children's Crusade. Although this is a nice comparison, it is quite rare that two people would have the exact same specific thoughts on the war.
Another observation I made was how Vonnegut often contradicts himself severely. On page 127, Billy explains how everyone thought he was going crazy because of how his father had thrown him into the pool and taken him to the edge of the grand canyon. Then on page 132 Rosewater says how its a shame that Billy's father is dead because "a boy needs a father." Now, if this were true and Billy did need his father, why would he be the reason that he is going crazy in the first place?
And on a completely separate note, what was with the giraffes on page 126? Was anyone else a little confused about that one?
First of all I haven't the slightest clue about the giraffes, although I did find it rather entertaining. I think Vonnegut uses items like the Three Musketeers Bar and the Children's Crusade as a way to maybe link events in the book, since the book is kind of chopped into various pieces. I agree that these maybe attempts to show that war is everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI also had a laugh at the giraffes, it kept my mind light and away from the confusing alter-world or the persistence of war. And i picked up on the three musketeers and children's crusade but the contradicting idea about Billy's father is quite interesting. Maybe he needed his father because he needed to go insane; that's the only way Tralfamadore would exist. The success and creation of this book maybe have depended on his mental state, or lack of. It may be a bit of a stretch, but these ideas are pretty foreign and outgoing to the normal train of thought.
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