"One thing was clear: Absolutely everybody in the city was supposed to be dead, regardless of what they were, and that anybody that moved in it represented a flaw in the design. there were to be no moon men at all." p.180
By far, this was the quote that stood out to me most in the novel. Vonnegut really sheds a light on war but does it more explicitly in this quote. He expounds on the "design"; the "design" refers to the design of war. The design is to take out the enemy...all of them. The moon extended metaphor also shows the attitude taken into war that the enemy isn't human, but the are some type of alien. These "moon men" aren't human and therefore are alright to kill indiscriminately. It shows a viewpoint not often shown to the American public that cast Americans as evil. In this novel, they are like any army; men sent to execute a plan or the "design" regardless of who stands in the way.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five Repetition
"They looked like a silent film of a barbershop quarter." p. 178
While reading through this novel, I started to notice a pattern. Quite often, Billy's time traveling is often triggered by a reoccurring image. An image such as this one, the barber shop quartet, sickens Billy. He doesn't realize why the barber shop quartet at his 18th wedding anniversary causes him to become nauseous. This time travel is more of a flashback, but he is reminded of the awful bombing at Dresden and realizes why it makes him sick. This is also another theme found in the novel. Billy hardly reveals any of this war stories to any of his family or friends and this repression leads people to think of him as crazy and may cause his real or imaginative time travelings.
While reading through this novel, I started to notice a pattern. Quite often, Billy's time traveling is often triggered by a reoccurring image. An image such as this one, the barber shop quartet, sickens Billy. He doesn't realize why the barber shop quartet at his 18th wedding anniversary causes him to become nauseous. This time travel is more of a flashback, but he is reminded of the awful bombing at Dresden and realizes why it makes him sick. This is also another theme found in the novel. Billy hardly reveals any of this war stories to any of his family or friends and this repression leads people to think of him as crazy and may cause his real or imaginative time travelings.
Slaughterhouse-Five POV
"And every day my Government gives me a count of military corpses created by military science in Vietnam." p.210
This story and novel is very unique in that it changes point of view. Somewhat like a soliloquy in a play, Vonnegut sometimes interrupts his own story to point out where he fits in. Often like a play, the narrator begins the story and ends it. The effect this creates is that Vonnegut is able to express his views more clearly. Throughout the story of Billy Pilgrim, he is able to make his snide, ironic, satirical or sarcastic remarks to more subtly make his point. In the last chapter, Vonnegut wraps up the plot and expands upon ideas found in the novel, like those of the Tralfamadorians. The story starts in 1st person, switches to 3rd person omniscient, and a combination in the last chapter. In doing this, he can tell the story of Billy Pligrim and makes his comments simultaneously.
This story and novel is very unique in that it changes point of view. Somewhat like a soliloquy in a play, Vonnegut sometimes interrupts his own story to point out where he fits in. Often like a play, the narrator begins the story and ends it. The effect this creates is that Vonnegut is able to express his views more clearly. Throughout the story of Billy Pilgrim, he is able to make his snide, ironic, satirical or sarcastic remarks to more subtly make his point. In the last chapter, Vonnegut wraps up the plot and expands upon ideas found in the novel, like those of the Tralfamadorians. The story starts in 1st person, switches to 3rd person omniscient, and a combination in the last chapter. In doing this, he can tell the story of Billy Pligrim and makes his comments simultaneously.
Slaughterhouse-Five Extended Metaphor
"It was realized then that ther was no food or water, and that the survivors, if they were going to survive, were going to have to climb over curve after curve on the face of the moon." p.180
This is one of the metaphors that is often repeated in referring to Dresden. This metaphor, is again, to attack war. Through his comparison, Vonnugut is saying, this isn't Earth; this is something foreign. There are no people, there is no food or water, they aren't crawling over holes but over a "curve on the face of the moon". We don't need to travel to Tralfamadore to find another planet; we do it to ourselves. Vonnegut also is saying that nuclear disarming is not the answer. Dresden was done with weapons that are called conventional. Although they are conventional, they killed hundreds of thousands in Dresden.
This is one of the metaphors that is often repeated in referring to Dresden. This metaphor, is again, to attack war. Through his comparison, Vonnugut is saying, this isn't Earth; this is something foreign. There are no people, there is no food or water, they aren't crawling over holes but over a "curve on the face of the moon". We don't need to travel to Tralfamadore to find another planet; we do it to ourselves. Vonnegut also is saying that nuclear disarming is not the answer. Dresden was done with weapons that are called conventional. Although they are conventional, they killed hundreds of thousands in Dresden.
Slaughterhouse-Five Motif
"Next to Lazzaro was the poor old high school teacher, Edgar Derby, mournfully pregnant with patriotism and middle age and imaginary wisdom. And so on." p.150
This motif is used always before describing Edgar Derby: poor old. From the revealing of his death by stealing a teapot, Vonnegut and Billy Pilgrim call him "poor old". The significance of this motif I think is found in the character that is Derby. He is not an average soldier; but, he is more or less the average American. He has an average job as a middle school teacher, is middle aged, and "pregnant with patriotism". Through his death, Vonnegut reveals who war affects most, average people. These people are affected for no or little reason, like stealing a teapot. Those who suffer most from war along with the soldiers are the people of the world.
This motif is used always before describing Edgar Derby: poor old. From the revealing of his death by stealing a teapot, Vonnegut and Billy Pilgrim call him "poor old". The significance of this motif I think is found in the character that is Derby. He is not an average soldier; but, he is more or less the average American. He has an average job as a middle school teacher, is middle aged, and "pregnant with patriotism". Through his death, Vonnegut reveals who war affects most, average people. These people are affected for no or little reason, like stealing a teapot. Those who suffer most from war along with the soldiers are the people of the world.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five The Connection
"There was a drunk on the other end. Billy could almost smell his breath-mustard gas and roses." p. 78
The drunk caller makes an appearance in the speaker's introduction in the first chapter. He says his name is Yon Yonson, although it isn't his true name. Is the narrator in the 1st chapter Vonnegut himself? I begin to wonder what, if any connection there is between this speaker and Bill Pilgrim. I believe this is the first intertwining of the stories and is a clear shout out to beginning of the book. The multiple plot and story lines rival that of a Tarantino movie and have me just as confused. At some point, they will hopefully be wrapped into one easily understood conclusion.
The drunk caller makes an appearance in the speaker's introduction in the first chapter. He says his name is Yon Yonson, although it isn't his true name. Is the narrator in the 1st chapter Vonnegut himself? I begin to wonder what, if any connection there is between this speaker and Bill Pilgrim. I believe this is the first intertwining of the stories and is a clear shout out to beginning of the book. The multiple plot and story lines rival that of a Tarantino movie and have me just as confused. At some point, they will hopefully be wrapped into one easily understood conclusion.
Slaughterhouse-Five Syntax
"Billy Pilgrim was on fire, having stood too close to the glowing stove." p.96
Personally, I would like thank Vonnegut. This story has been riveting, complex, and yet COMPLETELY understandable. He proves that simple syntax is regular English can actually be effective. No need for convoluted 9 line sentences. Vonnegut conveys his message through the plot and between the words without the overly complex vocab sentence structure. I have come to like this book for its simple yet challenging underlying themes and subtexts. A book about time travel and war that isn't cliched and is quite different. While, the jumps from time could be smoother, I like this book. His simple syntax with deep meanings could be the death of long sentences. So it goes. I can only hope.
Personally, I would like thank Vonnegut. This story has been riveting, complex, and yet COMPLETELY understandable. He proves that simple syntax is regular English can actually be effective. No need for convoluted 9 line sentences. Vonnegut conveys his message through the plot and between the words without the overly complex vocab sentence structure. I have come to like this book for its simple yet challenging underlying themes and subtexts. A book about time travel and war that isn't cliched and is quite different. While, the jumps from time could be smoother, I like this book. His simple syntax with deep meanings could be the death of long sentences. So it goes. I can only hope.
Slaughterhouse-Five Humor
"It can also be useful in rocketry." p.80
While weaving through time, war, and the mind of complex man, Vonnegut finds room for some humor. After telling the story of when Billy "shit thin gruel" after coughing. He follows it up with a condescendingly funny explanation of Newton's Third Law of Motion. There are several times when Vonnegut relieves his story with strong humor. The effect it creates is to lighten the mood. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was a horrid story meant to be gloomy and awful. Vonnegut also faces heavy and odd issues like war and time travel. He tells his story but weaves the humor in to keep the reader light and ready for the satire and sarcasm he also invokes. Vonnegut's purpose, whatever that it, isn't to just tell a great story like Shelley but to leave the reader wandering about the world and its workings.
While weaving through time, war, and the mind of complex man, Vonnegut finds room for some humor. After telling the story of when Billy "shit thin gruel" after coughing. He follows it up with a condescendingly funny explanation of Newton's Third Law of Motion. There are several times when Vonnegut relieves his story with strong humor. The effect it creates is to lighten the mood. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was a horrid story meant to be gloomy and awful. Vonnegut also faces heavy and odd issues like war and time travel. He tells his story but weaves the humor in to keep the reader light and ready for the satire and sarcasm he also invokes. Vonnegut's purpose, whatever that it, isn't to just tell a great story like Shelley but to leave the reader wandering about the world and its workings.
Slaughterhouse-Five Repetition
"So it goes." p.9
This phrase is repeated often throughout the story. It always follows the revelation of the death of someone of something. It is a universal phrase. At one point in the story, he talks about the death of a company or a person and follows it up with, "So it goes." Similarly he speaks of the death of a bug or something insignificant and follows it with, "So it goes." This apparent indifference reveals the effects the Tralfamadorians have had on Billy. Like the aliens, Billy no longer fears, dreads, or mourns death like other Earthlings. He knows that the person is only dead at that moment but alive at any other moment in time. His perception of time makes him unique but also crazy on Earth.
This phrase is repeated often throughout the story. It always follows the revelation of the death of someone of something. It is a universal phrase. At one point in the story, he talks about the death of a company or a person and follows it up with, "So it goes." Similarly he speaks of the death of a bug or something insignificant and follows it with, "So it goes." This apparent indifference reveals the effects the Tralfamadorians have had on Billy. Like the aliens, Billy no longer fears, dreads, or mourns death like other Earthlings. He knows that the person is only dead at that moment but alive at any other moment in time. His perception of time makes him unique but also crazy on Earth.
Slaughterhouse-Five Characterization
"Um." p.121
When asked by his new wife to share a story from World War II, Billy Pilgrim simply responds with "Um." This reveals some of the character of Billy Pilgrim. While he is open to share his experiences on Tralfamadore with an alien species, he is reluctant to reveal his war stories. This is most likely due to the emotional scarring he keeps hidden from losing great men like Edgar Derby. Dresden and all of the war certainly strained and stained Billy in ways he couldn't express. To keep it simple, he usually responds with "um". Billy seems so lost in his own world to determine present and what is going on in the real world. Not any different than most veterens and men, he internalizes his conflicts and they slowly eat at him.
When asked by his new wife to share a story from World War II, Billy Pilgrim simply responds with "Um." This reveals some of the character of Billy Pilgrim. While he is open to share his experiences on Tralfamadore with an alien species, he is reluctant to reveal his war stories. This is most likely due to the emotional scarring he keeps hidden from losing great men like Edgar Derby. Dresden and all of the war certainly strained and stained Billy in ways he couldn't express. To keep it simple, he usually responds with "um". Billy seems so lost in his own world to determine present and what is going on in the real world. Not any different than most veterens and men, he internalizes his conflicts and they slowly eat at him.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Let's play the Blame Game
"During these last days I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor do I find it blameable." p. 161
Victor then goes on to say that he had to obey his duty to all of humanity before his duty towards the creature to create a female. I totally agree with that; a species of creatures definitely would not be beneficial to the human race. In assessing blame in the entire story, Victor deserves partial blame. I do not blame him in the creation of the creature itself, for he was following his passions; but, I do blame him for the the preceding events and the after-creation. First of all, Victor should have had a plan for if it actually worked; which, by all indications, he thought it would. Strap the creature to a gurney, examine it, let it get somewhat acquainted to Victor and the world before letting it roam the world. For results of the creature, I do not blame the deaths of the creature's victims on Victor. We do not blame God for every wrong decision a human being. We, like the creature, have free will and responsibility. I blame Victor though for not embracing the creature he himself created. His lack of love towards the creature led to the continued mental deterioration of the creature's mental and emotion state leading the both his and Victor's tragic demise.
Victor then goes on to say that he had to obey his duty to all of humanity before his duty towards the creature to create a female. I totally agree with that; a species of creatures definitely would not be beneficial to the human race. In assessing blame in the entire story, Victor deserves partial blame. I do not blame him in the creation of the creature itself, for he was following his passions; but, I do blame him for the the preceding events and the after-creation. First of all, Victor should have had a plan for if it actually worked; which, by all indications, he thought it would. Strap the creature to a gurney, examine it, let it get somewhat acquainted to Victor and the world before letting it roam the world. For results of the creature, I do not blame the deaths of the creature's victims on Victor. We do not blame God for every wrong decision a human being. We, like the creature, have free will and responsibility. I blame Victor though for not embracing the creature he himself created. His lack of love towards the creature led to the continued mental deterioration of the creature's mental and emotion state leading the both his and Victor's tragic demise.
How could you not see that one coming?!
"I shall be with you on your wedding night."
This is one of the reasons I lose respect for Victor. I'm not sure whether he is more selfish, stupid, or blinded. Some say hindsight is 20/20, but I didn't see this in hindsight; I knew exactly what the creature was talking about. I have a few questions for Victor that would have made him think otherwise. Why wouldn't he just kill you now? Why wait? Why would he have not killed you earlier? Who has he gone after and killed each time? The fact that the creature didn't just strangle him as he stood there in conversation should have been a clue. Could Victor had thought the creature was aiming for poetic justice or something? For whatever reason, I think Victor wishes he had this one back. He certainly never would have abandoned Elizabeth for a moment on their wedding night.
This is one of the reasons I lose respect for Victor. I'm not sure whether he is more selfish, stupid, or blinded. Some say hindsight is 20/20, but I didn't see this in hindsight; I knew exactly what the creature was talking about. I have a few questions for Victor that would have made him think otherwise. Why wouldn't he just kill you now? Why wait? Why would he have not killed you earlier? Who has he gone after and killed each time? The fact that the creature didn't just strangle him as he stood there in conversation should have been a clue. Could Victor had thought the creature was aiming for poetic justice or something? For whatever reason, I think Victor wishes he had this one back. He certainly never would have abandoned Elizabeth for a moment on their wedding night.
Final Connection of the Frame Story
"Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such loathsome, yet appalling hideousness." p.163
This is the point in the story when the stories of Victor and Robert Walton collide. After finishing Victor's horrid cautious tale, Victor falls ill and dies. But, it is not only until the creature arrives, that the stories' line of sequence really hit. After promising Victor to hunt down the creature and his crew resolving to return south, Walton had certainly not expected the creature to come to him. Surprised and/or apparently unarmed, he cannot kill the creature and fulfill his promise. I'm not sure Walton is as emotionally scarred as someone like Victor to be able to kill anyways. Saying that, he does heed the advice of Victor and not being persuaded by the creature. He needs not to do the will of Victor; the creature is going down in flames.
This is the point in the story when the stories of Victor and Robert Walton collide. After finishing Victor's horrid cautious tale, Victor falls ill and dies. But, it is not only until the creature arrives, that the stories' line of sequence really hit. After promising Victor to hunt down the creature and his crew resolving to return south, Walton had certainly not expected the creature to come to him. Surprised and/or apparently unarmed, he cannot kill the creature and fulfill his promise. I'm not sure Walton is as emotionally scarred as someone like Victor to be able to kill anyways. Saying that, he does heed the advice of Victor and not being persuaded by the creature. He needs not to do the will of Victor; the creature is going down in flames.
Gigantic Stature Motif
"Over him hung a form which I cannot find words to describe:-gigantic in stature..."
Whenever anyone in the story cannot describe the creature in words, the words "gigantic stature" usually end up being used, not by coincidence. After a few mentions, I caught on. I'm not sure if there is truly any deeper meaning in this motif other than the fact to remind the reader of who it is these humans are seeing. I could not imagine what my reaction would be if I saw an ugly being of "gigantic stature" running at "superhuman speed" towards me or across land. Mary Shelley is simply reminding the reader of why the creature has such negative reactions with humans. While his intentions may be pure, his appearance will arouse fear. If someone lets him get close enough to hear him speak, it might be too late, in their minds. This gigantic stature ensures that people will know he isn't human from a ways off. For someone of gigantic stature, the creature does have some serious stealth, quickness, and ninja skills in avoiding been attacked my Victor and spotted by others other times.
Adam Allusion
"Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect." p.92
Upon first meeting the creature, he makes the comparison with him being Adam and Victor being God. As he tells his story and says himself, he is more like Satan. But worse. He argues that even the fallen angel had friends; he has no one. His Adam-like innocence is lost in his overwhelmingly constantly negative interaction with humans. To be honest, it is hard to not justify his actions from his point of view. The creature feels the only way to right the wrongs against him is to torture his creator. The way I think the creature differentiates from the Satan though is that he is not inherently evil but his life has made him a "wretch".
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Where was the legend born?
"...I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs." p.35
Thats it! No huge metal conductors at the top of the building with a wire leading to the creature that only rises when lightning strikes and then a crazy madman exclaiming "IT'S ALIVE!"? Instead, I get rain, it happens, and Victor runs away. I know stories adapt over the years, but this seems like a far ancestor from the Frankenstein I have grown up knowing. The fact that he is actually intelligent, doesn't have bolts coming out his neck, and not really having a name besides "creature" for now kind of disappointed me. The only commonalities I see are the fact there is a creator and an ugly monster. I was also surprised to find the creation happen so early. I was under the impression it was the climax of the story. From my diligent research and reliable answer from Yahoo! Answers (sarcasm), the only explanation is that the Frankenstein monster we know today first started in the 1930s movie. But, this, by far had to be the most non-intentional hilarious Frankenstein in history. Never seen the movie, but this has to be an accurate portrayal.
Killer of William
"This also was my doing!" p. 60
This is a quote from Victor that has lead me to figure out the killer. As stated in my previous blog, Shelley sometimes gives a way certain things by using the past tense. Since it is storytelling, the storyteller can use retrospect to say "was" or "seemed". When speaking of the death of Justine and the guilt he feels, Victor never once says, "I thought it was my doing." in reference to the him creating the monster he believes killed William and framed Justine, leading to her death. In this case, it the absence of any retrospective corrective thinking or words that cue me to think it was the creature that killed William. Not only this, but the creature saying "I expected this reception," and the fact he is actually intelligent lead me to believe this.
Theme of Guilt
"Justine died; she rested; and I was alive." p.61
The character feeling by far the most guilt is Victor. The fear expressed in this quote is the guilt of killing Justine. In creating the creature and seeing him at William's murder site, Victor is convinced that it killed William. In letting, as he feels, innocent Justine die kills him inside. In a way, though, he feels defenseless in that no one would believe his theory to the murderer. To escape his guilt, he flees home on a trek only to come face to face with what will be more guilt. Although initially angry at the creature, I feel Victor will express sympathy to his creation after hearing his story. He has to be able to sympathize with him in that Victor too is a lonely man in the Arctic when found by Walden.
The character feeling by far the most guilt is Victor. The fear expressed in this quote is the guilt of killing Justine. In creating the creature and seeing him at William's murder site, Victor is convinced that it killed William. In letting, as he feels, innocent Justine die kills him inside. In a way, though, he feels defenseless in that no one would believe his theory to the murderer. To escape his guilt, he flees home on a trek only to come face to face with what will be more guilt. Although initially angry at the creature, I feel Victor will express sympathy to his creation after hearing his story. He has to be able to sympathize with him in that Victor too is a lonely man in the Arctic when found by Walden.
Suspense
"I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." p.69
It is very odd phrases like this that build suspense in this novel. Key word in that phrase: was. The past tense implies that the creature was once good but is not so anymore. This empty quote gives no reason as to why or how but leaves it to the reader to only wonder until stumbling upon it later in the novel. By slowly revealing background on the characters and then having ground-breaking events happen, such as the creation and death of William, Shelley builds suspense and then has the story blow up with large happenings. These events, like the run in with the creature, leave the reader to wonder what has been happening while Shelley has been focusing on another character. Parallel plots with different character create an absence of mystery and suspense that leaves the reader to wonder. We can only conjecture until the story starts to unravel and piece together.
It is very odd phrases like this that build suspense in this novel. Key word in that phrase: was. The past tense implies that the creature was once good but is not so anymore. This empty quote gives no reason as to why or how but leaves it to the reader to only wonder until stumbling upon it later in the novel. By slowly revealing background on the characters and then having ground-breaking events happen, such as the creation and death of William, Shelley builds suspense and then has the story blow up with large happenings. These events, like the run in with the creature, leave the reader to wonder what has been happening while Shelley has been focusing on another character. Parallel plots with different character create an absence of mystery and suspense that leaves the reader to wonder. We can only conjecture until the story starts to unravel and piece together.
Frame Story
"Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it-thus!" p. 14
The official beginning in the story in chapter 1 begins the story of Victor Frankenstein. But, before the odd and disturbing story of the creator, we are given some background and bigger frame story of Robert Walden. Inside of Victor's tale, he then encounters the creature he created who leads to tell his story. Usually, stories that have several stories can be difficult at time to follow. But, to this point, the plot line has been relatively easy to follow. Shelley does an excellent job of giving just the right amount of background and information to each back story to understand what's going on without giving up the entire plot. At some point, the creature story will close, leading to a closing of the Victor story, leading to a closing of the story of Robert Walden. All three are separate, interconnected stories with different plots, but commonalities between each.
The official beginning in the story in chapter 1 begins the story of Victor Frankenstein. But, before the odd and disturbing story of the creator, we are given some background and bigger frame story of Robert Walden. Inside of Victor's tale, he then encounters the creature he created who leads to tell his story. Usually, stories that have several stories can be difficult at time to follow. But, to this point, the plot line has been relatively easy to follow. Shelley does an excellent job of giving just the right amount of background and information to each back story to understand what's going on without giving up the entire plot. At some point, the creature story will close, leading to a closing of the Victor story, leading to a closing of the story of Robert Walden. All three are separate, interconnected stories with different plots, but commonalities between each.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)