Slaughter House Summary
Essay Preview: Slaughter House Summary
Report this essay
SlaughterHouse-Five
By: Kurt Vonnegut
Main Characters
Billy Pilgrim a World War II soldier, survivor of the bombing of Dresden, an optometrist, husband, father, and a time traveler. Billy is the protagonist of this novel. Billy becomes “unstuck in time.” He jumps back and forth to different moments of his life.
Roland Weary an antitank gunner that has been taken prisoner of war along with Billy. He is an unpopular character because he is stupid and fat and mean, and smells like bacon. Unlike Billy, Roland wants be war hero.
Paul Lazzaro, the man responsible for Billys death. Paul is a capture soldier just like Billy, back in the states Paul was nothing more than a theft. Paul seeks revenge on people who he thinks has done him wrong. Paul plans Billys death because he believes Billy is responsible for Rolands death.
Kurt Vonnegut, the writer and a minor character in this novel. He was captured soldier during the war. He was there during the destruction of Dresden.
Barbara Pilgrim, she is Billys daughter. She has been faced with her mothers death and her fathers mental breakdown. She has taken charge of the family because Billy isnt fit to be in charge. She becomes irritated with Billy and his talks about the Tralfamadorians.
Tralfamadorians are aliens shaped like toilet plungers and each palm containing an eye. Unlike humans, Tralfamadorians see in 4 dimension. They do not see time in a linear order like humans they see time happening simultaneously. When Tralfamadorians see a dead body they see that body alive and well in another period of time. Their acceptance of death, which Billy embraces, leads the narrator to remark simply “So it goes” at each mention of death.
Kilgore Trout is a bitter unrecognized author of several cleverly ironic science-fiction novels that have great influence on Billy. Kilgore Trout is a fictional writer created by Kurt Vonnegut; critics have viewed him as Kurts alter ego.
Summary
Slaughterhouse Five is a novel about Billy Pilgrim an optometrist to be, who is drafted into the army during World War II. Billy is put into the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium is taken prisoner by the Germans. Before he is captured by the Germans he experiences time shift for the very first time. He travels back and forth throughout time.