While I have taken note of many things within my reading of “Slaughterhouse
Five” by Kurt Vonnegut, the theme really screams at me the loudest, as does the
theme in a film with a similar subject base called “Fury”. I recommend that you
all go and read this book and watch this film, might I add. Nevertheless, since
I started reading this book first, I will dissect its theme first.
So, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the reemerging
question, or the central theme question in the book is “Do we live in a world
of primarily determinism, or free will?” In my opinion, “Slaughterhouse Five”
answers this question, and while it appears as if it takes the deterministic
side, they are some points at which that lean toward free will. For instance,
the quote in the book that states “All time is all time. It does not change. It
does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment
by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I've said before, bugs in
amber,” ultimately leading me to the notion that we live in a universe of
determinism. This quote definitely suggests that we live in a world where yes,
we have our choices, but time and time only will show us that we are truly “bugs
in amber” lacking free will, predetermined, and deceived, if you will, by time.
While the movie, “Fury”, takes on an array of somewhat
similar and contradictory themes. Nevertheless, the one that I would like to
discuss here is the theme of comradery. Now, I am well aware that all of the
soldiers were not so fond of “Norman”(Logan Lerman) due to his slight timidity,
and lack of experience of the world of war. In fact, the only one who truly
ended up liking him, or more so taking him under his wing was “Wardaddy” (Brad
Pitt).
Essentially, after the crew pretty much egging Norman on to take lives
and risks that he had never done before, Brad Pitt assures him of himself, and
basically lets him know that he would not be there had he not been able to
handle it. In my opinion, the way in which both films share similar themes, in
a way, is that they both ultimately lead the viewer or reader, that they truly
have no choice in anything. More importantly in “Fury”, primarily because of
the fact that I can identify with Norman in the situation in which he was in. Yes,
he very well could have left had he been uncomfortable with the ravages of war,
but being surrounded by these brave, courageous, war-driven men, you almost
have no choice but to follow through. In addition, I think that once he was
there, he felt an obligation to his country, and honestly, “how could he choose
fear over patriotism?” Exactly, there is no choice.
So, ultimately, I believe that is the Tralfamadorian
teachings in “Slaughterhouse Five”, teaching Billy that free will is futile,
and almost nonexistent, and that regardless what efforts, tasks performed, and
actions, death is inevitable, thus making it appear as if we reside in a
universe of determinism. And the manhood and nation obligatory pressures placed
upon Norman that ultimately serve to the overall theme of them both, which is the
“Futility of Free Will”.
