Up's and Down's

I found it quite interesting that Tralfamadores believe humans to be a simple and monotonous being. Not only do with see various examples throughout the chapters but specifically we can see a clear example on this on pg. 115. The text depicts Billy in the Tralfamadorian zoo where one of the 'guides' has to explain to the Tralfamadore's that humans think in a 'linear' time range. 

In fact, in most sci-fi movies where the term 'alien' is portrayed these are usaully more technological, mentally, or even physically advanced than humans. In the movie 'War of the Worlds' the aliens are represented by huge robots who have weapons that we wouldn't even dreamed of. Also in the movie 'The Forgotten' the protagonist is manipulated by 'aliens' in to believing that she never had a child. At the end of the movie, the 'aliens' explain that they have wanted view how the bond between a mother is child is created and if this is as strong as it is believed to be. We may conclude, that in these examples and many more there is one thing in common, the 'aliens' are always superior to humans in one way or another. 

Personally, I believe one of the reasons why the author created these "Tralfamodore theories" were only to mock humans. We see this happening over and over again with subjects such as time, life, death and even war. For example on pg. 116, Billy asks the Tralfamadores why their planet is so peaceful. Their reaction to this was very interesting since they looked at him as if he had just asked them what 2 + 2 equalled. This shows that the Tralfamadores are not only advanced and superior to humans but many of our actions or ideas seem utterly useless and senseless to them. 

Also at the end of this scene (pg. 115) Billy describes his expierences on the flat car in the zoo. He states " the flatcar sometimes crept, sometimes went extremely fast, often stopped-went uphill, downhill, around curves, along straightaways...That just life" Although he is describing the flat car once he states "That's just life" we automatically create a connection. In my opinion he is creating a metaphor in which he compares the ups and downs of a flat car to those of life itself. 

As happy as it can get...

Many of us spend our entire lives searching for that one moment or phase in our lives that will make us truly happy. In fact, many of us tend to waste our entire lives searching for this, others may even die without even having the slightest glimpse of what absolute happiness feels like. In other cases, we may even believe that we have reached happiness with material things or with the help of certain subjects such as religion. Personally, I believe happiness is only achieved within yourself. It cannot depend on the environment your in nor on material things you attain throughout your lifetime. Partly, I believe it is a problem of self-esteem and confidence. Once your confident in yourself you may view the world from a different perspective and realize that the only one who can end all the problems that do not allow your happiness is yourself. But I also contradict myself because you can never achieve complete happiness. As humans, there will always be those factors that will always be on our minds that will prevent this from happening. For example, according Sigmund Freud in his book called "Civilization and it's Discontents" he states that humans will never reach happiness not only because of the way their minds our divided but also because of factors such as anger, love and even society.  He also mentions that the only way for humans to feel safe is to conform to society. We see it everyday in school. There is always that 'peer pressure' to fit in, etc. 

What I am trying to get at is that when Billy Pilgrim is asked if he is happy during his stay in Tralfamadore, he responds with "About as happy as I was on Earth" (pg.113-114). When I read this, my mind immediately referred back to what I had read on humans in relationship to their happiness. This opinion could have been affected by the way I had read the text. As if to say, what tone I felt the author put it in. I took it as a sarcastic tone and with the tone of 'conformity' to it. I mean if you think about it, Billy Pilgrim's life has not been the easiest nor the happiest one. He has experienced not only war but also many losses in his life and occasions where he has even had to question himself (sink-or-swim).  Many readers would believe that Billy has had a rough time and it does not get any better over the years (we know this because of his time traveling), so when he compares he life in Earth to that of his stay in Tralfamadore we assume that his stay isn't the best or at least not what he has expected it to be. 

Chapter Four

Summary (Highlights):

• First kidnapping from the Tralfamadores flying saucer.
• Arrival at the prison.
• Weary's wish.
• Second kidnapping.
• Free will on earth

Analysis:

During the chapter, Billy mocks war when he is watching the war movie and begins to watch it backwards where everyone ends up to be a baby.

Also we are introduced to the Tralfamadores philosophy about free will and how humans are captured like bugs in amber.

Also since we know that Billy does not die of war nor the plane crash, we can conclude that Paul Lazarro will kill him in avenges in name of Roland Weary's dying wish. 

Relation:

At the end of the chapter, when the aliens mention something about free will and how this is affects earth, it reminded me of the book I read in philosophy by Jean Paul Sartre- Existentialism is a Humanism. It states the same idea that is being stated in this book. 

Also when the author mentioned the 'bug stuck in amber' it created an image in my mind of the many museums that I've been too where there is an immense amount of fossilized amber. 

Chapter Three

Summary (Highlights):

• Billy and Weary are captured by the Germans.
• Adam and Eve
• Optometrist appointment. View from his office
• Driving through the Ghetto
• Train ride; Photograph; Wild Bob

Analysis:

Throughout the chapters, especially this one, we witness the change of Billy's life. We can see how war has affected his mental health. For example, there are several parts in which he weeps constantly with no reason whatsoever and the hallucination of Adam and Eve on the generals boots. 

He also mentions several hints that indicate to us that he has no control over his life. Like he had no opinion when it came to choosing a career; During the swimming lesson with his dad; Enrollment in the army. Everything up till now in his life has been chosen for him in other words he had no free will. A clear example of this is in the statement "Among the things that Billy Pilgrim could not change, were the past, the present and the future". 

Relations:

Most of this chapter reminds me of all the movies, books, documentaries and articles I've read about World War II concerning the Germans. When Billy is forced to march along side the other American prisoners and he is forced to ride in a train where everyone is crammed, this is the typical image that comes to your mind that you relate to the Jews in concentration camps. Books such as ' The diary of Anne Frank', 'Night- Ellie Wiesel', 'The boy with the striped pajamas' all have images that are very much like this one. 

When Billy finds himself driving through the ghetto in Ilium and a black man approaches his car reminds me of the streets and corners of Bogota. There are many beggars that approach your car and most of the time you either have no will or no time to lend them anything so you drive on just like Billy did. 

Chapter One

Summary (Highlights):

• The author introduces himself as a man called Yon Yohnson.
  
• An introduction to the fire bombing in Dresden, Germany.
• Glimpse of his trip to Dresden a few years after the firebombing. 
• Introduction to characters; Billy Pilgrim, Mary O'Hare, Gerard O' Hare, Taxi driver.

Analysis:

Almost instantly, we can tell that Vonnegut wrote this chapter after writing the whole book. He gives an introduction to it and explains the various motifs of why he chose to write about the firebombing in Dresden. 

Although throughout the first part of this chapter he writes in 1st person, he later on begins to narrate the story in 3rd person.

We can also tell that he will not speak about his experiences but about the experiences of a character by the name of Billy Pilgrim.

Also, in various occasions throughout this chapter he expresses his feelings towards the war. Ex: Mary O'Hare's opinion about "babies".

Relations:

The way Vonnegut narrates the story, it reminds me a lot of the book called "Catcher in the Rye" and "A Clockwork Orange". Both books use some sort of slang and narrate their life experiences to get to the main point. 

In the beginning, I thought that he would be retelling the story as he remembers it, especially after he meets up with Gerard O' Hare in order to fill in some blank spots. But halfway throughout the chapter, he introduces Billy Pilgrim which in the end lets us know that he is going to retell Billy's story in relation to Dresden. 

Also, when Vonnegut explains how he created an outline for his book using crayons and a napkin and how all the colors eventually blended together, this reminds me of the time I did the same thing for an English assignment. We were supposed to create a story and I didn't have paper so I used a couple of gum wrappers to write down the ideas that came into my head while I was in the waiting room of my dentist's office. 

There was also this one time where I drove in a hired taxi from one region of Colombia to the other. The whole way I talked to the driver about several topics just like how 'Yon' talks about communism to the taxi driver in Dresden. In fact, the Christmas card that the driver sent Yon one year reminds me of the hallmark cards you get people that quote a maxim because you have no idea what to write to them. 

Chapter Two

Summary (Highlights):

• Billy Pilgrims life.
• Billy's time switching.
• Luxembourg forest.
• "Sink-or-Swim"
• Radio Show; Plane crash; Tralfamadore
  

Analysis:

Instead of analyzing Billy's life in a linear sequence (Beginning, Middle, End) we are able to analyze in a 'circular' method. As if to say we are taken back and forth throughout his life experiences. This is also the 'Tralfamadore's ' main philosophy. 

He also begins describing the hardships of war. Ex: Walk through Luxembourg forest. 

Everytime a death occurs during the chapter, the author writes 'So it goes'. Which reminds us that this book centralizes around death and war.

Relations:

When I began reading the part about the Tralfamodore's I found it very funny. I imagined a war veteran (who is usually and most commonly supposed to be serious about life) talking like a child about alien stories. In fact, the way he describes these beings reminds me about the movie with Tom Cruise "War of Worlds". There is also one part during this chapter that explains that the Tralfamadore's believe they are better than humans because they are able to see in 4 dimensions, which in the case of the movie the aliens believe they are smarter than humans because they feed off of blood. 

Also whenever anyone talks about war veterans I think of the movie Forest Gump. In which, Forest meets and saves his commanding officer during the Vietnam War and who ends up being his fishing partner.