Slaughter House Five, by Kurt Vonnegut tells the story of Billy Pilgrim. Billy, a War Veteran and successful optometrist lives in his home town of Illum, New York.
During the War, he is captured as a prisoner of war. During that time, he is stuck in time. Sometimes, he goes into the future when he's a successful optometrist. What really astonishes me, is that he can predict the futures since he's forever in a time travel paradigm. For example, he's friendly with another prisoner of War who was a former Gym Teacher. Billy predicted the Gym Teacher to get shot in front of a firing squad after the bombing of Dresden. Billy would, Because death is no object to Billy. It's as if he is immune to it.
To elaborate, he see's his own death. But, instead of trying to stop it, he doesn't because he knows that he's alive in another part of his life. I think that that is a great statement on life its self. Instead of being mournful of someones death, we can appreciate them because they are still alive in other moments of their life.
In conclusion, while this book may have been confusing to me in some aspects, the greater image and message it taught out ways all of the negatives. It's a very optimistic message, because it teaches to perhaps not be afraid, or angry when we make a mistake. This is true because some other parts of our life, something has happened. Maybe its taught us to appreciate those good moments when we are down.
