The third chapter of Kurt Vonnegut’s book, Slaughterhouse-Five, is very interesting, and it gives the reader a lot to think about. The whole book is dedicated to writing about the horrible experiences soldiers are forced to dace during a war, and the devastating effects this has on their lives. Although it is still unclear whether or not Billy Pilgrim is Kurt Vonnegut (there is a passage in this chapter where the narrator, speaking as what we believe is Vonnegut’s perspective, says “I was there.” Yet makes no further reference to him actually presenting the moments he describes), it amazes me how, after everything Billy Pilgrim has gone through, he still shows indifference towards those who, like him, are suffering from the evil of society.
This feeling of apathy and lack of emotion towards others presents a great contrast with the main character of the movie Forest Gump. This naïve individual seeks to do something good for everyone that crosses his path, even if is the smallest act of kindness. Forest is also put to the test in several situations, and he always ends up placing the safety and well-being of others before his own. Although very different, these two characters amazingly survive war without really intending to, one because of ignorance and another for giving up on life. The war experiences described in the book are enough to mark a person’s life forever, not only in the way they think but in the way they act towards life. This is why, when pilgrim simply decides to drive on without looking back at the black person on the road, my perception of him changed, and I no longer felt the admiration and respect I felt towards him earlier in the book.
These thoughts also helped me think about and reflect upon my own thoughts and actions, and how we always seem to take things for granted. I realized that whenever we see someone on the street we do exactly what Pilgrim did, and completely take those people out of our lives. In a feeble attempt to try and change this world’s reality, I will try to keep a bag of cookies or any other bagged food and, instead of giving people on the streets money (which they will probably use to sustain their vices) I will give them food and hope that at least they don’t go to bed on an empty stomach.
Yvi : my great grandmother had a diary, she wrote the things a woman had to do to be good and educated in life. one of them was looking into the eyes of poor people or homeless people in the street, and telling them if you didn't have money, or give them food, but never to give them money.
ReplyDeleteShe said people preferred to ignore the problems of others because they couldn't deal with their own, she was the wife of the president at that time (Alberto Lleras Camargo) she was an amazing woman, I am happy that your family has the same idea of not ignoring this people and noticing their need of our generosity.
Your reflection helped me, as well, I now see that some of the characters in chapter 3 lack generosity and tolerance, they commit the human mistakes of not dealing properly with their problems.