Slaughterhouse-Five: Vonnegut's Philosophy of Time

Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, and epic, or a play of recognized literary merit and show how the author’s manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Time is always a fragile element in many works of literature that can be used in a multitude of ways. The most common way is to present the past, present, and future in that sequence. Some authors use flashbacks to show how events in the past tie into events in the present. In some pieces of literature, the past or future is presented first, following the present to depict how events come together. In Slaughterhouse-Five, however, Vonnegut’s use of time is incomparable. With the concept of time being one of the prime focuses in the novel, the author brings a unique philosophy to this precious element.

In the first chapter, the beginning, middle, and end of the novel are given in brief summary. This is odd in most cases; authors usually try to keep readers hooked by not spoiling the end. However, Vonnegut crafts his way into constructing a truly exceptional piece of literature. It is not the sequence of events that matters most in this story. In fact, Vonnegut tries to prove that the sequence of the protagonist, Billy Pilgrim’s life does not matter at all. Billy is what Vonnegut describes as being “unstuck in time,” meaning he travels through different times in his life involuntarily. One significant time in his life, besides being a soldier in the war, is when he is kidnapped by the aliens of the unknown planet, Tralfamadore. It is from the Tralfamadorians that Billy learns the “true” philosophy of time.

According to the Tralfamadorians, there is truly no beginning, middle, or end to life. Every moment has always existed and always will exist. This philosophy enlightens Billy to a whole new perspective of life, which he wishes to share with the world “when the time is ripe.” What Vonnegut is portraying is that because the sequence of time is meaningless, every moment in time already exists. Therefore, fate cannot be changed by any one person or any higher being. This reflects his religious beliefs as well, being as he considered himself agnostic and atheist.

All throughout the book, readers begin to convince themselves of this philosophy. It is a very tempting belief and offers a sense of stability in the world. Just as Vonnegut is encouraging this concept of time, he creates a scene that contradicts this whole theory, sending readers into mass confusion. In one incident in which Billy is sent back in time, he is watching a war video on the television. Strangely, he begins to watch the episode backwards. The planes are flying backwards, the flames disappear, weapons are disassembled, parts are put back in their place, and minerals are secretly buried so that they do not cause any harm. The reader is intrigued that when the video is played backwards, it contradicts the meaning of war and represents an element of peacefulness. Therefore, the previous theory that the sequence of things does not matter is rebutted. While the element of time is crucial in the plot of this story, it is nearly impossible to grasp Vonnegut’s true philosophy of time.