Characterization in Chapter 2

Characterization is the process by which the writter reveals the personality, values, and quality of a character.

     In chapter two, we are introduced to a new character in the story, Billy Pilgrim.  As the protagonist in the story, chapter two reveals the the personality, values, and qualities of Billy.  The narative device Vonnegut uses, which reveals Billy to the readers through the times in his life spastically, allows the readers to draw conclusions and see Billy at different times in his life in the length of one chapter.

     Experiencing the different times in Billy's life separated by years, we see how the events define Billy.  We understand Billy moment by moment, event after event.  At the start of chapter two, it opens with a little introduction to the chapter.  Vonnegut informs the readers that "Billy is spastic in time, has no controll over where he is going next, and the trips aren't neccessarily fun.  He is in a constant stage of stage fright, he says, because he never knows what part of his life he is going to have to act in next."  By doing so, Vonnegut is in a way letting the readers know that he is going to jump around from time to time in Billy's life.  For example, after learning about Billy's mild nervous collapse, we are told that "He was treated in a veteran's hospital near Lake Placid, and was given shock treatments and released.  He married his fiancee, finished his education, and was set up in business in Illium by his father-in-law."  Vonnegut mentions his incident, then quickly skips to him getting released and marrying his fiancee, then getting a job! The man's whole life was basically put in one chapter. Impressive.



Chapter One??

     As I was reading chapter one, I was disconcerted.  I began reading with the assumption that Vonnegut was going to jump right in to the story at chapter one.  Needless to say, I was incorrect.  Vonnegut used chapter one as a preface!  In my opinion, Vonnegut used chapter one as a preface because if it was labeled "Preface", most of the people reading the book would have skipped it (I for sure would have, no doubt). 
     In chapter one, Vonnegut discusses his plan, layout, and the process of creating Slaughterhouse Five.  For example,  Vonnegut tells us that he "had outlined the Dresden story many times.  The best outline I ever made, or anyway the prettiest one, was on the back of a roll of of wallpaper."  His statements towards the end of chapter one saying "I've finished my war book now.  The next one I write is going to be fun.  This one is a failure, and had to be..." show the readers that chapter one was written after the book.  I wonder if the story will start in chapter two, or if it will just be a part two to the preface.
  

Onomatopeia in Chapter 1

Poo-tee-weet

     Towards the end of chapter one, Vonnegut displays onomatopoeia, the use of words whose sounds echo their meaning. 

  
     While teaching at the University of Iowa, Vonnegut received a three-book contract from a man by the name of Seymour Lawrence.  Vonnegut informed Sam, the name by which his friends call him, that the first of his three books will be his book about Dresden (Slaughterhouse Five).  Vonnegut explains in the first chapter that the shortness of the book is due to the fact that there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre.  He continues on saying, "Everything is supposed to be very quiet after a massacre, and it always is, except for the birds.  And what do the birds say? All there is to say about a massacre, things like "Poo-tee-weet?""

     By using poo-tee-weet, Vonnegut is symbolizing the lack of anything intelligent to say about a massacre and war.  After a massacre, the birds alone chirp breaking the silence.  Poo-tee-weet is appropriate and fitting for the time after a massacre, because no words can describe the pain, tears, and loss of life.

  

Alive

Here I am, on a nice summer day before football trying to figure out Blogger.  Hopefully I am doing this correctly!