Summary of Slaughter House Five :: Novels Literature Slaughter House Five Essays

Summary of Slaughter House Five Chapter OneThe first chapter serves as an introduction in which Vonnegut directly addresses the reader, pointing unwrap that the book is based on events that really occurred. He experienced first-hand the destruction of Dresden, during WWII, an event that he has neer been able to put come out of his mind. For twenty-three years, he has wanted to spare about it. Vonneguts attitude towards war becomes clear in this first chapter. He sees it as a totally futile occurrence, but he is resigned to the feature that war will always exist. He feels that wars have taught people insensitivity towards death. He cites the detached attitude of a woman writer as she relayed the news of a young veterans dying. He finds such a nonchalant, isolated attitude repulsive in any human being. Vonnegut then points out the irony in the fact that war tries to fight violence with more than violence. He also questions the American governments treatment of violence as a top secret affair that is not to be discussed. I took this as interesting its just the first chapter and yet the seed is pointing out and beating you with multifaceted issues that he will hopefully find solutions to towards the revoke of the novel. The character displayed as the author of the story tells of how he writes it and the events which lead to publication. In one instance he meets with a fellow veteran, Bernard OHare. When face with his wife, Mary OHares anger about war, Vonnegut assures her that his book will not spiritualize violence. Her main concern is the death of babies who will grow up and authorise in war. Along with his assurance to her, he also considers calling the book, The Childrens Crusade. The author has tried to pass on his knowledge of the futility of destruction to his children. He wants the young generation to understand what the older ones have always failed to. Mary seems nonconcentric but I understand her purpose and that is to set out the mind-set that the book wants the reader to adhere. There is a lot of precautions Vonnegut is making originally he even preludes the story. Vonnegut revisits Dresden with OHare, and this, along with the completion of this book, is of great importance to him. With these 2 things he has managed to free himself of his obsession.