Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is definitely my favorite novel that we've read so far. Unlike the other novels, Slaughterhouse-Five seems more believable and real. It's way easier to follow and understand (or maybe that's just because we're reading it right after Mumbo Jumbo). It's gut wrenching and crazy even if I'm unable to relate to anything that's happening. While I'm sitting there thinking about how messed up all the characters are in the book, there seems to be a certain phrase popping up all the time after the worst scenarios I've ever read about.
"So it goes" It seems after every time a person dies, Vonnegut uses the phrase. I've noticed it doesn't really matter how the person dies, whether in war or of natural causes, they're all treated the same. This keeps in line with Billy Pilgrim's "whatever" or nonchalant attitude. The phrase could also reflect Tralfamadorian idea that even though a person is dead, they could still be living in different time periods. I thought that was super interesting because a phrase, that doesn't seem like it means much, suddenly connects so many different ideas together in the novel. The number of times "So it goes" is mentioned through out the novel can also be related to how inevitable death is. Instead of discussing the idea of death and how everyone dies, "So it goes" almost takes over that job by reminding the reader of the inevitability of death quickly and easily.
Another cool thing about this book is how many different genres it encompasses. Having science-fictional elements mixed in with historical fiction doesn’t seem like it should belong to either category. However Vonnegut does add in a comical voice whenever something really serious happens.The best example of using a comical voice is when we are told about the performance by British POWs of a Cinderella pantomime and how Billy ends up dressed in a coat with a furry collar that is way too small for him along with high heeled boots. It’s almost as if war has become a bad piece of theater too. However later there are direct statements by President Truman and the essay by Air Marshal Saundby. By bringing these two voices together, Slaughterhouse-5 exemplifies how diverse and uncentered the novel is. Therefore, it can absorb different sorts of knowledge and ideological viewpoints and can adapt a whole rang of genres.
"So it goes" It seems after every time a person dies, Vonnegut uses the phrase. I've noticed it doesn't really matter how the person dies, whether in war or of natural causes, they're all treated the same. This keeps in line with Billy Pilgrim's "whatever" or nonchalant attitude. The phrase could also reflect Tralfamadorian idea that even though a person is dead, they could still be living in different time periods. I thought that was super interesting because a phrase, that doesn't seem like it means much, suddenly connects so many different ideas together in the novel. The number of times "So it goes" is mentioned through out the novel can also be related to how inevitable death is. Instead of discussing the idea of death and how everyone dies, "So it goes" almost takes over that job by reminding the reader of the inevitability of death quickly and easily.
Another cool thing about this book is how many different genres it encompasses. Having science-fictional elements mixed in with historical fiction doesn’t seem like it should belong to either category. However Vonnegut does add in a comical voice whenever something really serious happens.The best example of using a comical voice is when we are told about the performance by British POWs of a Cinderella pantomime and how Billy ends up dressed in a coat with a furry collar that is way too small for him along with high heeled boots. It’s almost as if war has become a bad piece of theater too. However later there are direct statements by President Truman and the essay by Air Marshal Saundby. By bringing these two voices together, Slaughterhouse-5 exemplifies how diverse and uncentered the novel is. Therefore, it can absorb different sorts of knowledge and ideological viewpoints and can adapt a whole rang of genres.
Nice post! After reading Slaughterhouse Five, the "So it goes" phrase was something that really stuck out to me and your points about it helped me figure out why it was so significant to me. The Tralfamadorian worldview was something deep rooted in the novel so it makes sense that Vonnegut would constantly use of "So it goes", as death and its implications are major themes in the book.
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