MS JARRETT MY PRINTER IS DEAD

Slaughter House V: Discussion Questions and Quote Analysis
Sam Pletcher
1. What is the significance behind Vonnegut’s brief random additions about his life in the war? Was Billy Pilgrim a real person Vonnegut knew or did Vonnegut base Pilgrim after himself?
2. Is the tone of the phrase “so it goes” ironic or sarcastic at all? Or is Vonnegut making a serious statement about life and death?
3. If the story was told in chronological order, would it be as famous or important? Would it even be an intelligent book?

“ ’No, no,’ says Billy serenely. “It is time for you to go home to your wives and children, and it is time for me to be dead for a little while—and then live again.” At that moment, Billy’s high forehead is in the cross hairs of a high powered laser gun. It is aimed at him from the darkened press box. In the next moment, Billy Pilgrim is dead. So it goes.
So Billy experiences death for a while. It is simply violet light and a hum. There isn’t anybody else there. Not even Billy Pilgrim is there. [page 43]”
This quote displays all the book has been to me so far. Not only does it display the infamous ‘so it goes’, but just the feeling of absurdity and normalcy all at the same time, seems so perfectly ‘Vonnegut.’ Also, just the fact that Vonnegut wrote the death of the protagonist in the middle of the novel, and then continued on with the story in the next paragraph is baffling. I believe this quote captured the essence of Vonnegut; a peculiar science fiction feel, an eerie morality lesson, and his signature phrase. Though death is described so simply, no Tralfamadorians, no flashbacks, no ivory and white feet, just light.