Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
The relationship between Billy and the speaker. Is as confusing and obscured as the events of this book. For the longest time, I even assumed that the speaker had once again changed his name for the book as he said he did in the beginning. Among many things, the speaker and Billy do have some very oddly peculiar moments. Moments that are so short and so insignificant yet as similar as can be. One example is when speaking of their dogs. Back in the beginning of the book, the speaker states, "I let him know I like him, and he lets me know he likes me" (Vonnegut 7). Much later in the book, Billy says something eerily familiar to this same sentence by the speaker. Also the speaker and Billy both share an aurora of lunacy to them. The speaker has his completely irregular and concise sentences, and Billy has the whole being abducted by aliens and time travel idea. However, later on through some very sneaky and inconspicuous hints, one realizes that Billy and the speaker are in no way the same person, considering the speaker exists within Billy's story. Intriguingly their paths cross, and some of the character's, such as Paul Lazzaro and OHare are all present within Billy's version. This possess the question, if the speaker was present through most of Billy's war experience, why did he tell the entire story through through Billy's version Then again, why did Kurt Vonnegut himself even include the initial speaker in his book and why didn't he just have the story told solely from Billy's first person perspective? I guess we may or may not know soon enough.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Time Travel
Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
One compelling mood that Vonnegut is very talented of inducing is this whole notion of timelessness. From the beginning of the book, the idea of time travel and the relativity of time is highlighted and even somewhat explained in parts. The explanations are helpful, yet still quit puzzling. How could someone begin to understand something as perplexing and abstract as a fourth dimension and past, present, and future all coinciding. Well, literary structure seems to do the trick. Through what I've blasted through so far, the entirety of this book is set very complexly and seemingly random where totally unrelated events can happen at any time. You are so easily swept off to so many of Billy's life events no matter if it past or present or future. The truth is, giving the context of this book. There is no past or present or future. By reading this book we are swept through a grand story, with not a true beginning, middle, or end. The reader begins to adapt to this notion of timelessness and then starts to embrace it. A book itself can help describe some of the philosophy of this story. In a book, who's to say what is present. As you read one page, that is presently what you are reading, but just as soon as you are done with that you may move ten pages behind and be presently reading that as well. As the Tralfamadorians say, "What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time" (Vonnegut 88)
One compelling mood that Vonnegut is very talented of inducing is this whole notion of timelessness. From the beginning of the book, the idea of time travel and the relativity of time is highlighted and even somewhat explained in parts. The explanations are helpful, yet still quit puzzling. How could someone begin to understand something as perplexing and abstract as a fourth dimension and past, present, and future all coinciding. Well, literary structure seems to do the trick. Through what I've blasted through so far, the entirety of this book is set very complexly and seemingly random where totally unrelated events can happen at any time. You are so easily swept off to so many of Billy's life events no matter if it past or present or future. The truth is, giving the context of this book. There is no past or present or future. By reading this book we are swept through a grand story, with not a true beginning, middle, or end. The reader begins to adapt to this notion of timelessness and then starts to embrace it. A book itself can help describe some of the philosophy of this story. In a book, who's to say what is present. As you read one page, that is presently what you are reading, but just as soon as you are done with that you may move ten pages behind and be presently reading that as well. As the Tralfamadorians say, "What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time" (Vonnegut 88)
Simultaneously living.
Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
The greatest proof of Billy's abduction being totally fabricated through his warped mind comes from the early on in chapter 4. Although the book keeps a consistency in being very inconsistant, it does form somewhat a pattern when referencing the beginnings of his abduction. As he is taken from earth and lead through the process of being captive to the Tralfamadore, a parallel scene is developed as Billy is also run through the process of being captive to the Germans. As he traveled through space being enlightened by the speak box, he simultaneously is being hauled across the whole of Germany as a prisoner of war. As he is stripped of his clothes by the Germans, he also is presented naked in an exhibit to the rest of the Tralfamadore. He is studied and looked down upon as stupid, as seen from the questions asked through the talking box and the pamphlet on American's as prisoners. The fact that both events are so similar posses the idea that Billy fabricated the future scenario in his head to make life easier. In order to produce such vivid events his mind just coupled the ideas he had learned from his science fiction books with events of his real life. One line that seems to sum up this whole idea is, "So they were trying to reinvent themselves and their universe. Science fiction was a big help" (Vonnegut 101).
The greatest proof of Billy's abduction being totally fabricated through his warped mind comes from the early on in chapter 4. Although the book keeps a consistency in being very inconsistant, it does form somewhat a pattern when referencing the beginnings of his abduction. As he is taken from earth and lead through the process of being captive to the Tralfamadore, a parallel scene is developed as Billy is also run through the process of being captive to the Germans. As he traveled through space being enlightened by the speak box, he simultaneously is being hauled across the whole of Germany as a prisoner of war. As he is stripped of his clothes by the Germans, he also is presented naked in an exhibit to the rest of the Tralfamadore. He is studied and looked down upon as stupid, as seen from the questions asked through the talking box and the pamphlet on American's as prisoners. The fact that both events are so similar posses the idea that Billy fabricated the future scenario in his head to make life easier. In order to produce such vivid events his mind just coupled the ideas he had learned from his science fiction books with events of his real life. One line that seems to sum up this whole idea is, "So they were trying to reinvent themselves and their universe. Science fiction was a big help" (Vonnegut 101).
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Acquainted with the Night
Acquainted with the Night by Robert Frost
Throughout this poem, Frost uses the extended metaphor of night in order to describe hardships and struggles in life. Much of these symbols are equated with hyperbole. The "furthest city light" and the "saddest city lane" are metaphors for how dark some times of his life have been (Frost 976). These times were so dark that few could compare. It explains a lot about Robert Frost. I believe that the unearthly clock in the sky truly is the moon in which he speaks of. What may cause people to falter in this idea, is that the moon cannot be used to tell time. However, I believe that is part of the genius of Frost. The consternation that an always mobil, hard to predict moon would create as a clock would be totally off-putting. He does this to symbolize how the times in the night are not just linear. They do not descend from point A to point B to point C. In these dark times, which seem continually present, events and times seem scattered and listless. A common theme for movies, is the one where the protagonist is knocked out of the loop and has lost his wits and all emotion. One example would be in the movie, The Aviator, when Howard Hughes has a mental breakdown and locks himself in his room. The scene is shuffled and obscures as it displays him listless inside his own personal hell, ignorant of the time. It is in times such as these where the moon takes lead as the clock.
Throughout this poem, Frost uses the extended metaphor of night in order to describe hardships and struggles in life. Much of these symbols are equated with hyperbole. The "furthest city light" and the "saddest city lane" are metaphors for how dark some times of his life have been (Frost 976). These times were so dark that few could compare. It explains a lot about Robert Frost. I believe that the unearthly clock in the sky truly is the moon in which he speaks of. What may cause people to falter in this idea, is that the moon cannot be used to tell time. However, I believe that is part of the genius of Frost. The consternation that an always mobil, hard to predict moon would create as a clock would be totally off-putting. He does this to symbolize how the times in the night are not just linear. They do not descend from point A to point B to point C. In these dark times, which seem continually present, events and times seem scattered and listless. A common theme for movies, is the one where the protagonist is knocked out of the loop and has lost his wits and all emotion. One example would be in the movie, The Aviator, when Howard Hughes has a mental breakdown and locks himself in his room. The scene is shuffled and obscures as it displays him listless inside his own personal hell, ignorant of the time. It is in times such as these where the moon takes lead as the clock.
Dover Beach
Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
This poem by Matthew Arnold, highlights the eternal feelings and sad insights of one contemplating the world's problems. His sad thoughts begin from the presence of the vast English Channel. From its spanning waters, comes a "eternal note of sadness" (Arnold 892). He alludes back to the greek philosopher Sophocles, who also heard this note of sadness. This quick allusion points out how this mournful outlook towards life's mysteries and vastness, has always created a sense of fear and sadness in humans. The speaker then references the loss of faith in his generation. Less and less people find comfort in the knowledge of a higher power. In a higher power we can confide in peace and acceptance, ignoring lives great erie mysteries and dismissing them as God's business to take care of. Without certainty to soothe us, the speaker references the next best things to hold off this sadness, each other. This transition from a people rigid in faith and a superior, mysterious being, and more for the faith and love and equality of fellow humans, has been quite evident. It is a different world, yet not an entirely bad world.
This poem by Matthew Arnold, highlights the eternal feelings and sad insights of one contemplating the world's problems. His sad thoughts begin from the presence of the vast English Channel. From its spanning waters, comes a "eternal note of sadness" (Arnold 892). He alludes back to the greek philosopher Sophocles, who also heard this note of sadness. This quick allusion points out how this mournful outlook towards life's mysteries and vastness, has always created a sense of fear and sadness in humans. The speaker then references the loss of faith in his generation. Less and less people find comfort in the knowledge of a higher power. In a higher power we can confide in peace and acceptance, ignoring lives great erie mysteries and dismissing them as God's business to take care of. Without certainty to soothe us, the speaker references the next best things to hold off this sadness, each other. This transition from a people rigid in faith and a superior, mysterious being, and more for the faith and love and equality of fellow humans, has been quite evident. It is a different world, yet not an entirely bad world.
Sorting Laundry
Sorting Laundry by Elisavietta Ritchie
This whole poem is structured by an extended metaphor. All of her assorted linens and things represent and define her relationship with her man. From her descriptions one can discern that their relationship has not always been perfect, they have endured through it and their bond is stronger than ever. The author writes, "pillowcases, despite so many/ washings, seams still/ holding our dreams" (Ritchie). She obviously holds onto memories and possessions very dearly. She brings up the history of her clearance towels, and speaks of how even shrunken clothes are hard to give to good will. This brings up the more serious possession of the shirt. This shirt of a former lover, is just another example of her trouble to move on. When she contemplates "what if" considering her own relationship, she sounds as if she would have a horrible time letting that go as well. This poem emphasizes the human condition of attachment.
This whole poem is structured by an extended metaphor. All of her assorted linens and things represent and define her relationship with her man. From her descriptions one can discern that their relationship has not always been perfect, they have endured through it and their bond is stronger than ever. The author writes, "pillowcases, despite so many/ washings, seams still/ holding our dreams" (Ritchie). She obviously holds onto memories and possessions very dearly. She brings up the history of her clearance towels, and speaks of how even shrunken clothes are hard to give to good will. This brings up the more serious possession of the shirt. This shirt of a former lover, is just another example of her trouble to move on. When she contemplates "what if" considering her own relationship, she sounds as if she would have a horrible time letting that go as well. This poem emphasizes the human condition of attachment.
The Convergence of the Twain
The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy
This poem, by Thomas Hardy, takes a unique new view of the infamous sinking of the titanic unlike that of other literature. For one, the poem fixates much less than the actual people aboard, but rather the ship itself and its sinking. With the use of personification, he writes of the inescapable fate of the ship and the iceberg. The poet writes, "No mortal eye could see/ On The intimate welding of their later history" (Hardy 779). He compares the meeting of the Titanic and the iceberg as an intimate relationship. As if by fate these two counterparts would one day diverge and meet. He writes of the whole situation almost with a sense of awe and wonder. This is quite ironic considering that he writes of such a very infamous and horrific event. With the submission of the human side of the story, the speaker is actually quite right by his interpretation. It was quite an awesome event. See what I did there?
This poem, by Thomas Hardy, takes a unique new view of the infamous sinking of the titanic unlike that of other literature. For one, the poem fixates much less than the actual people aboard, but rather the ship itself and its sinking. With the use of personification, he writes of the inescapable fate of the ship and the iceberg. The poet writes, "No mortal eye could see/ On The intimate welding of their later history" (Hardy 779). He compares the meeting of the Titanic and the iceberg as an intimate relationship. As if by fate these two counterparts would one day diverge and meet. He writes of the whole situation almost with a sense of awe and wonder. This is quite ironic considering that he writes of such a very infamous and horrific event. With the submission of the human side of the story, the speaker is actually quite right by his interpretation. It was quite an awesome event. See what I did there?
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