The Optics of Life, Death, and War The perspective of a novel is pertinent for understanding its theme and purpose. It is revealed early on in Slaughterhouse-Five that different perspectives contribute to the novel’s meaning. Upon introducing Billy Pilgrim’s character, Vonnegut identifies the protagonist’s profession as an optometrist and also emphasizes his career’s importance to the story, stating that “Ilium is a particularly good city for optometrists” (Vonnegut 24). The phenomenon of optometry is repetitive throughout the book and alludes to the different ‘lenses’ through which the different characters view their surroundings. Vonnegut’s intentional placing of this piece of information in the beginning of the story allows the reader
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His perspective is arguably the most indirect because he faces many different situations pertaining to the war. As a soldier in the war, it may be expected that he viewed the war similarly to the narrator. However, there is no absolute indication of his hatred towards the war. In fact, while in the hospital, Professor Rumfoord questions his feelings in which Billy replies “Everything is all right, and everybody has to do exactly what he does. I learned that on Tralfamadore.” (198). The reader is hence prompted to believe Billy has a perspective similar to that of the Tralfamadorians. After his experience with the Tralfamadorians, Billy is persistent about sharing the views of the Tralfamadorians with the Earthlings. He believes that the foreign aliens have achieved a more peaceful lifestyle and due to previous experiences with the war, he wants to attempt to attain that peace on Earth. Despite the disbelief of others, Billy insists that his experience with the Tralfamadorians was real and goes lengths to convince others. Vonnegut’s portrayal of Billy as an optometrist further coincides with the idea that Billy is a type of messenger between the different outlooks. Billy is attempting to show the Earthlings around him what he believes to be the clear ‘lense’ of life by exposing them to the different ‘lenses’ through which they can view their
His perspective is arguably the most indirect because he faces many different situations pertaining to the war. As a soldier in the war, it may be expected that he viewed the war similarly to the narrator. However, there is no absolute indication of his hatred towards the war. In fact, while in the hospital, Professor Rumfoord questions his feelings in which Billy replies “Everything is all right, and everybody has to do exactly what he does. I learned that on Tralfamadore.” (198). The reader is hence prompted to believe Billy has a perspective similar to that of the Tralfamadorians. After his experience with the Tralfamadorians, Billy is persistent about sharing the views of the Tralfamadorians with the Earthlings. He believes that the foreign aliens have achieved a more peaceful lifestyle and due to previous experiences with the war, he wants to attempt to attain that peace on Earth. Despite the disbelief of others, Billy insists that his experience with the Tralfamadorians was real and goes lengths to convince others. Vonnegut’s portrayal of Billy as an optometrist further coincides with the idea that Billy is a type of messenger between the different outlooks. Billy is attempting to show the Earthlings around him what he believes to be the clear ‘lense’ of life by exposing them to the different ‘lenses’ through which they can view their