Slaughterhouse-Five: a Series Introduction
I’m starting a series on Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five based partially on a paper I wrote in high school.
I’m starting a series on Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five based partially on a paper I wrote in high school.1 This post provides a brief introduction to the series as well as links to each post in it.
Introduction
So it goes. Rarely in literature does one phrase so perfectly encapsulate the message and style of a novel. In the occasionally confusing, often chaotic, and frequently jumbled novel Slaughterhouse-Five only this phrase remains a constant. More often than not, this refrain appears after a tragedy and serves as a reminder that the world keeps going despite adversity and individual pain.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five is a novel full of pain and adversity, as well as absurdity and humor. Famous for both its message and unique format, Vonnegut’s magnum opus has endured despite frequent bans and the author’s own assertion that “this one is a failure”.2 In fact, it’s been celebrated as “a masterpiece sure to remain a permanent part of American literature”.3
So what is it about this novel that gives it such staying power? In this series of posts, I hope to analyze some interesting themes and components of the book in order to answer just that question. The posts are somewhat related, but don’t necessarily need to be read in order. I’m keeping a list of everything published below for reference:
Introduction (this post)
Slaughterhouse-Five: an (Almost) Autobiography
Lot’s Wife and Lots in Life: Vonnegut’s Purpose in Writing
All other posts will contain substantial spoilers for the novel, so I highly recommend you read the novel before checking any of them out. Hope you enjoy!
Citations
Allen, William Rodney, “Slaughterhouse-Five.” Slaughterhouse-Five, New Edition. Comp. Harold Bloom. New York: Facts on File, 1991, N. pag. Bloom’s Modern Critical Interpretations, Bloom’s Literary Reference Online, Web, 5 Sept. 2013.
Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr., Slaughterhouse-Five, New York: Random, 1991, Print.
This series is based on and inspired by a research paper I wrote in high school. The teacher who ran this AP English Lit class and helped with my paper has since been fired by the school solely on the grounds of his sexual orientation. This action was discriminatory, unjust, and simply wrong. Please consider supporting Cut The Clause, a project started by my classmates to combat homophobia in Catholic schools, and the Trevor Project, a group that supports young members of the LGBTQ+ community. (This firing occurred before the 15 June 2020 decision of Bostock vs Clayton County, declaring employers who terminate employees based solely on sexual orientation violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At the time of writing it is not clear how this ruling will impact religious and religion-affiliated employers.)
Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr., Slaughterhouse-Five, New York: Random, 1991, Print, pg. 22.
Allen, William Rodney, “Slaughterhouse-Five.” Slaughterhouse-Five, New Edition. Comp. Harold Bloom. New York: Facts on File, 1991, N. pag. Bloom’s Modern Critical Interpretations, Bloom’s Literary Reference Online, Web, 5 Sept. 2013.