The Trophy For Villainy In Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse
The Trophy for Villainy
Although many might heartily defend the villainy of Roland Weary or Paul Lazarro, it is clear that the true antagonists of Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-five are culture, society and history, all of which play a major role in Billy Pilgrim's ascent to death. Characters are not villains; their actions may suggest the contrary, but they are caused by the negative effects of society, which changes with area, culture, which changes with time, and history, which cannot be changed, and yet still yields the same results as the two former.
History is defined as a chronological record of significant events. Roland Weary's history has a negative effect on his present, including the fact that he is ridiculed for the crime of smelling like "bacon no matter how much he washed" (Vonnegut 44). These past occurrences lead Weary to become vengeful during his adulthood, feeling that everyone but he is at fault for his adversity. Had Weary's child and adolescent years been filled with classic puerile bliss rather than misery, his bitter adulthood would never have surfaced, thus confirming that Weary's sour history plays a part in Billy's ultimate doom. …show more content…
However, allowing culture to change behavior (and vice versa) is a clear effect of free will. As the Tralfamadorian to whom Billy speaks claims, "only on Earth is there [ ] free will" (Vonnegut 109). Free will is a necessary component for human life to flourish, but free will in the forgiving culture of Americans plays a large part in the destroying of an innocent Billy Pilgrim. Paul Lazarro, a malicious man who is obsessed with revenge, is permitted by the Earthling principle of free will to hire an assassin. It is not only the Americans to blame; according to the inhabitants of Tralfamadore, it is the entire Earth and its previously thought admirable
Although many might heartily defend the villainy of Roland Weary or Paul Lazarro, it is clear that the true antagonists of Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-five are culture, society and history, all of which play a major role in Billy Pilgrim's ascent to death. Characters are not villains; their actions may suggest the contrary, but they are caused by the negative effects of society, which changes with area, culture, which changes with time, and history, which cannot be changed, and yet still yields the same results as the two former.
History is defined as a chronological record of significant events. Roland Weary's history has a negative effect on his present, including the fact that he is ridiculed for the crime of smelling like "bacon no matter how much he washed" (Vonnegut 44). These past occurrences lead Weary to become vengeful during his adulthood, feeling that everyone but he is at fault for his adversity. Had Weary's child and adolescent years been filled with classic puerile bliss rather than misery, his bitter adulthood would never have surfaced, thus confirming that Weary's sour history plays a part in Billy's ultimate doom. …show more content…
However, allowing culture to change behavior (and vice versa) is a clear effect of free will. As the Tralfamadorian to whom Billy speaks claims, "only on Earth is there [ ] free will" (Vonnegut 109). Free will is a necessary component for human life to flourish, but free will in the forgiving culture of Americans plays a large part in the destroying of an innocent Billy Pilgrim. Paul Lazarro, a malicious man who is obsessed with revenge, is permitted by the Earthling principle of free will to hire an assassin. It is not only the Americans to blame; according to the inhabitants of Tralfamadore, it is the entire Earth and its previously thought admirable