"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.
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