FREE ESSAY ON SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5

SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5

Kurt Vonnegut wrote Slaughterhouse Five as well as many other novels. 
Slaughterhouse Five is the story of Billy Pilgrim. Pilgrim is a time 
traveling war veteran who is unstuck in time. The entire novel is a 
journey through this universe. He visits strange planets and the bombing of 
Dresden in Germany. 
Human cruelty is the overall theme of the novel. It is the behavior of 
men that they will harm anything weak. There is always a bully in every 
community. Weary's attitude as a bully is apparent in all sections of human 
kind. The bombing in Germany is an example of human cruelty. It shows our 
blind vengeance and little ability to reason. The mop-up after a battle also 
proves this. 
The complicating incidents are his continuing adventures during his 
imprisonment in the war. The climax is the bombing of Dresden. The setting 
varies in time and place in many instances but is mainly in Germany toward 
the end of the war. Pilgrim even travels to distant galaxies, such as 
Tralfamadore. 
The major characters are Billy Pilgrim and Kilgore Trout. Billy Pilgrim 
tries to survive the ordeals he is thrown into and is a true adventurer. 
Trout is also stuck in the fray. The style of the novel is light and even 
pretty funny. The language reflects the story and is wordy, and little 
complicated . The book uses its comedy to help get the reader through the 
complex plot. This book makes you think. All the sci-fi incidents capture 
your imagination.