Analysis Of Vonnegut's Slaughter House Five

Submitted By Kreye579
Words: 1163
Pages: 5

To what extent? There are many reasons for war, most of those reasons are either indefinite or irrational. Despite lack of true reasoning for war, many believe that war is absolutely necessary. War consists of fighting one nation against another; sometimes war even occurs within a nation against its own population. Now, the question that surfaces is: why would a society initiate fight against its own people? After all, everyone is essentially connected together. While reading Slaughter House Five through a moral lens, it can be seen that human's lack of moral cause wars to occur, which in result is what dehumanizes society. It is Evident that that humans lack of morals is what brings about war; loose ethics can bring about egocentric views towards important matters that waiver reasons to fight. These self-centered views towards opposing nations and true rationality is what essentially cause war. Vonnegut demonstrates this through the beliefs the characters and how they are not caring enough to look at reasons for war in other lights. One of character with these kind of egocentric views is Howard W.Campell. He is fictional Nazi who moves to Germany from the US, for he thinks that Americans hate the poor. Campbell has very strong beliefs,and he is very oppinionative; he told American POW's this so that he could convince them to fight a common enemy.: "[y]ou're going to have to fight the Communists sooner or later...Why not get it over with now?" (Vonnegut 177). Because of Cambell's very strong opinions, he essentially preaches expediency. He wants the situation of war to be convenient for him, while not caring about others, and fundamentally being immoral. cambelled egocentic way of thinking for his own personal gain can bring about was and much dissugreement, ansthim and his beliefs. Others, such as Lazzarro a primaary soldier in Vonneguts novel exsecutes egocentirc ways of thinking through revenge. There are many pleasurable thing in life but "[revenge] is the sweetest thing there is, " said Lazzaro. " he said. "and ... are they ever f[***] sorry. I laugh like hell. I don't care if it's a gu or dame. If the President of the United States f[***] around with me, I'd fix him good" (Vonnegut 156). Lazzaro views the word moral id adifferent way; his moral code essentially contadicts the word moral. His beliefs in morals are messed up in his mind : If someone were to do him wrong, He will find a way to get revenge. The problem with his kind of thinking is that he always thinks that people are doing him wrong, weather they mean it or not. One self assured mindset can cause dissagreament with others, and eventually leading to war by not beng compationates to others. In which case, to prevent war one must have strong, centered morals. Due to a wronged moral code cusing war, dehuminization finds itself through the effects of war. Vonnegut emphasizes his anti- war message throughout the book by depicting many human suffereng scenes. These scenes target innocent people who seem the leat equipped throughout the novel. Many Soldiers endured suffering in Dresden; one of them Billy, the novel's main protagonist " looked inside the latrine. The wailing was coming from in there. The place was crammed with Americans who had taken thier pants down. An American near Billy wailed that he had excreted his brains. Moments rater he said, 'there they go' " referring to his brains (Vonnegut 157). This crude suffering that Vonnegut depicts really focuses un how sick human bodies got from deprivation and physical destruction. The POW getting tortured allows the readers mind to move away from any kind of battlefield heroism, but a life lost in war. This kind of suffering is what dehuminizes a society. Whil both soldiers - Billy and Weary- are on the battlefield, Billy is in a serious condition when approached by Weary. Ironically, "Weary drew back his right boot, aimed a kick at [Billy's] spine, at the tube which had so many of Billy's