"Poo-tee-weet?"

Vonnegut yet again can be applauded for his writing style. He ends the story in a very ingenious way: "One bird said to Billy Pilgrim, 'Poo-tee-weet'" (215). Ending with this rhetorical question leaves the reader to interpret the end how he or she wants. Vonnegut wants us the readers to think and reflect on all that happend in this story. Vonnegut doesn't answer all the questions the readers would desire to be answered. He leaves them to their own imaginations and let them wonder.

Frame Story

As this book comes to an end, I can now talk about how Vonnegut uses the frame story approach. In chapter 1 and 10, the setting and point of view is different than the rest of the book.  In these chapters we see Vonnegut and his friend O'Hare talking, instead of hearing the narration of the story of Billy Pilgrim. For instance they are talking on a plane ride saying; "O'Hare and I had never expected to make any money--and here we were now extremely well-to-do" (211-12). These two chapters are very different but help to tie the story together. Vonnegut uses the frame story with a very keen writers touch to transition in and out of his wretched war book. Just another of his many expert skills in writing that make him so adored.

A Prayer of Serenity

Chapter 9 brings a reappearance of the Serenity Prayer. In chapter three Billy recalls it in his office on a plaque. Now in chapter 9 we see it reappear when Billy sees a "silver chain around Montana Wildhack's neck.  Hanging from it, between her breasts, was a locket containing a photograph of her alcoholic mother--a grainy thing, soot and chalk.  It could have bee anybody.  Engraved on the outside of the locket were these words:  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to know the difference." This reminds Billy of the all too true idea that he cannot change the past, present, or future. This is a keen recapitulation of the entire novel. As the Tralfamadorians say, It will happen, always has happened, and always will happen.

An Obviously Stated Epigraph

Chapter 9 brings to the reader the epigraph of the novel. Vonnegut very explicitly points out "the epigraph of this book is the quatrain from the famous Christmas Carol...
The cattle are lowing,
The Baby awakes.
But the little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes" (197).
Vonnegut nicely tells the reader this quatrain is the epigraph, and doesn't leave it to be questioned. This epigraph makes sense though as Billy endured many tough and gruesome times but he hardly cried. Billy like Jesus when he is awoken doesn't cry but remains at peace and tries to carry on.

An Undeserving Town, Bombed

In this chapter we encounter the bombing of Dresden that we have been anticipating for a while. In the first chapter Vonnegut makes a reference to the Bible story about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the biblical passage God rains down on the city for the vile things they had done. Thus they were deserving of destruction and chaos. As we learn in this chapter the people that were in Dresden the day of the bombing were innocent, undeserving victims. Vonnegut is able to engage the reader by making this reference and make the reader think throughout the story about this unfortunate event,

Nazism Will Be Quarantined

In the opening of this chapter we meet a character who appears to have converted to Nazism and turned from the american way. He invites many of the other Americans to join his force called 'The Free American Corps.'Derby in a very prideful moment stands up and confronts this vermin of a man. He speaks of the American ideals and how with the Russians they will "crush the disease of Nazism, which wanted to infect the whole world"(164). This indirectly characterizes Edgar Derby as a person who has very strong patriotism for his country and is strongly against Nazism. Also he uses a metaphor to compare Nazism to disease that they will eradicate. Vonnegut is able to use references to attain many goals.

Sneaking Around to Live

In this chapter the prisoners of war are working in a factory that makes a syrup-like substance. This syrupy substance is "enriched with vitamins and minerals"(160). The workers were constantly "spooning" the syrup, or sneaking spoonfuls of it. As prisoners the Americans weren't actually receiving proper nourishment and were deprived of just simple necessities like proper food. So they are forced to act like little children sneaking around trying not to get caught and hiding spoons just to survive. This reminded me of my brother trying to sneak a candy bar past my mom so he could enjoy it. But unlike the war prisoners my brother is properly fed and doesn't need to have more candy. This is a very keen idea of Vonnegut's to include this incident to explain how life was in the war.