ENG121 Introduction to Novel and Drama: Slaughterhouse-Five Analysis

This assignment analyzes Kurt Vonnegut's novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, focusing on its themes, satire, and historical context, particularly the Dresden firebombing and its impact on the author. It explores the concept of the Tralfamadorians and their perception of time, relating it to the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitations of free will. The assignment also summarizes an article from The Onion, which satirizes the U.S. government's response to the pandemic by deploying hospital ships. The author draws parallels between the novel's depiction of war and the current crisis, examining the government's response and the public's reactions to the situation, highlighting the themes of inadequate resources, and the lack of care. The assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of the novel and its connections to contemporary events, including references to historical pandemics and the government's actions.

Running head: ENG121 INTRO TO NOVEL AND DRAMA
ENG121 INTRO TO NOVEL AND DRAMA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Question 1:
Slaughter House 5 is a book written by Kurt Vonnegut, and was first published in the year 1969,
by “Dell Publishing House”. The novel comprises of Duty Dance with Death, concentrating the
novel with science fiction, portraying the concepts of dark comedy, satirical explanation of
situations aligning it with science fiction. The author Kurt Vonnegut at a tender age of 22,
himself encountered Dresden Firebombing as he was captured by German in the times of Battle
of Bulge, luckily surviving the Firebombing in February 13-14, 1945. The experience of war led
the author to pen down his experiences in the novel. Slaughter House also referred to as “The
Children’s Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death”.
In the book, there was mentioned about the “Tralfamadorians”, which is a planet
mentioned by the author, where a person Billy Pilgrim is staying, he was kidnapped and taken to
Tralfamadore(Bora, 2018). The view of the Tralfamadore was that there are seven sexes on
earth, and each is essential, if babies are to be born on Earth. The literal meaning of this
proclamation is that Tralfamdorian has perceived the timing of earth in a different manner, they
have linked past, present and future together and explains that everything repeats itself, every
incident come along in a synchronized manner. They even believe that this incidents of past,
future and present are fixed and are existent eternally. The author has even explained that every
incidents have a chronological order according to Tralfamdorians and that free will is a myth.
Therefore, the learning that is acquired from this statement is that in today’s crises were the
world has been struck with a pandemic disease, everyone is bound to succumb to the
consequences. The author generally explores the concept of free will of human beings, and he
would take satirical statement to explain them (nytimes.com, 2020). He mentioned specifically

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the World War 2, were mention of Vietnam was majorly done, were Dresden encountered a
firebomb were half of the people were cruelly butchered, the author was among the fewer
survivors of that war as well as firebombing incident. The book is the satirical insight of that war
which replicates the present situation Unites States is facing. In this time, during 1918, a
pandemic disease of influenza, has occurred which recorded the most devastating pandemic in
the recent history. The pandemic influenza was first detected in military personnel in the year
1918, generated from H1N1 virus which belonged to avian origin, and it struck near about 500
million people, estimating the death to be 50 million. United States itself had 675,000 deaths.
The control interventions were similar to the present pandemic Covid-19, Corona Virus, leading
to no specified vaccinations to save lives, making the disease to be incurable one. The
controlling measures include self-isolation, quarantine, maintaining personal hygiene by the
increased use of disinfectants, and not forming gatherings. The author explanation of
“Tralfamadorians”, occurrence that are permanent irrespective of past, present and future is quite
relatable and holds a valid scientific notion.
2. Summary of the Onion article
The article has emphasized the work Los Angeles Government in initiating two ships of USNS
Mercy and USNS Comfort, which will have 12 operating rooms, with near about 1000 beds.
American Government has taken up this initiative, to provide adequate treatments to the people
suffering from coronavirus. With near about 188, 592cases and death toll increasing every day,
the facility is considered quite less.
The article has further explained that hundreds of medical professionals will be allotted to the
treatments of these patients, as local hospitals are busy looking for coronavirus treatments. As

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suggestions, there were people commenting on the post, which gives a satirical exposure to the
inefficient facility when the death toll of Unites states has crossed 4000 people.
In the first comment, the woman Jodhi Burke has mocked the inefficiency of services at
the time of crises. The satire in this comment is that ships are needed in a much greater extent in
other 50 states in America. Nevertheless, the two ships that has been given by the Government is
insufficient and shows a biased nature of the Government. As well as, the lack of resources at the
time of crises is mocked in this comment. The other comment done by Wayne Prettejohn, claims
that how ships brought the virus deliberately into the country, which explains the satire made by
person in explaining the carelessness of the Government.
The most satirical comment made on this step taken by the Government is the last one, which
mocks the disappointment of people dying in local hospitals without any care. Kevin Olt, who is
an accountant have two aspects cleared out by making this comment, makes the comment. The
one aspect is that there is lack of care and enough facilities which is increasing the death, and the
insufficient provisions of Government will make people go to local hospitals for treatment
ending up in more increment in death tolls by Coronavirus.
References
Bora, U. (2018). FICTION/HISTORY: A STUDY OF KURT VONNEGUT’S
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE. Advance and Innovative Research, 108.
Akter, S. (2017). Treatment of time and history in the narration of postmodern literature: Kurt
Vonnegut’s slaughterhouse-five, Martin Amis’s time’s arrow and Tim O’Brien’s how to
tell a true war story (Doctoral dissertation, BARC University).

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nytimes.com (2020). Retrieved 1 April 2020, from
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/06/books/review/kevin-powers-kurt-vonnegut-
slaughterhouse-five.html
Louis, A. (2017). The Economy of Desire in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five. symplokē, 26(1-2),
191-205.