PTSD and Alien Abduction - Slaughterhouse-Five Part 2: Crash Course Literature 213
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I also think the character of Kilgore Trout, the very mediocre science fiction writer, deserves discussion. The fact that Vonnegut was known as primarily a science fiction writer at that point (Sirens of Titan, Cat's Cradle) seems to suggest that Trout is at least partly based on Vonnegut himself, which offers Vonnegut's usual self-deprecating humor. The name, like many of the names of Vonnegut's characters, is partly ridiculous and partly metaphorical. A -pilgrim- can be defined as someone who is on a journey, or one who is journeying through life -- and Billy Pilgrim is indeed in a journey in his life and, in his mind, through space and time. -Trout-, however conjures up a fish in a river which we eat. I first thought of a fish wrapped in a newspaper. Perhaps Trout's novels are considered as worthless as that newspaper used to wrap a dead fish? The work of Trout, however, deeply influenced Billy, and it seems many of his hallucinations stem from the stories of Trout (and the fact that his work can only be found in a porn shop also is relevant -- Billy does have a child with a porn star in his fantasy world.
And, of course, Billy is shot dead by a fellow soldier many years later, one who is consumed with anger and violence -- another way in which the symptoms of PTSD can show themselves. There is so much in this novel that I've read it several times, and I still gain new insights when I read it.
Date: 2022-04-04
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Comments and reviews: 9
Brian
Vonnegut-s entire oeuvre can almost be read as one large work. His books reference each other and his own life so often that to pull one out from the pack is to unmoor it from its context. It is because of this intertwining of his works that I am not sure the Tralfamadorians are merely Billy-s hallucinations. It is not uncommon for improbable things to occur in Vonnegut-s books. Gravity can become variable (Slapstick); time can repeat itself (Timequake); the author can pop into the book and transport one of the characters to the surface of the Sun (Breakfast of Champions); and so on. Vonnegut-s early work is mostly science fiction. When reading science fiction, you don-t assume fantastic elements like spaceships, aliens, and time travel are hallucinations; you accept them as part of the reality of the world of the book. I think when Vonnegut says Billy Pilgrim was kidnapped by Tralfamadorians, we have to accept that as something entirely possible in Vonnegut-s world.
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Vonnegut-s entire oeuvre can almost be read as one large work. His books reference each other and his own life so often that to pull one out from the pack is to unmoor it from its context. It is because of this intertwining of his works that I am not sure the Tralfamadorians are merely Billy-s hallucinations. It is not uncommon for improbable things to occur in Vonnegut-s books. Gravity can become variable (Slapstick); time can repeat itself (Timequake); the author can pop into the book and transport one of the characters to the surface of the Sun (Breakfast of Champions); and so on. Vonnegut-s early work is mostly science fiction. When reading science fiction, you don-t assume fantastic elements like spaceships, aliens, and time travel are hallucinations; you accept them as part of the reality of the world of the book. I think when Vonnegut says Billy Pilgrim was kidnapped by Tralfamadorians, we have to accept that as something entirely possible in Vonnegut-s world.
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Julia
Reading Slaughterhouse-Five as a person with PTSD was so interesting and weird. So many weird little parallels to my own life. By that it all occurs out of order was something I really loved, because it really communicated what it's like to have flashbacks which is something that's really difficult to wrap your head around. Like, even as somebody who has flashbacks. I'm in one place, and then all of the sudden my body and my brain start reacting like I'm somewhere else. Sometimes just my body will start reacting, even though my brain knows where I am. And reading Slaughterhouse-Five was very real for me because of that. I don't have flashbacks as often anymore, but there was definitely a time where I was having them so often that it felt like I was living sort of out of time. Things weren't happening in the right order. So reading Slaughterhouse-Five was kind of a surreal experience.
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Reading Slaughterhouse-Five as a person with PTSD was so interesting and weird. So many weird little parallels to my own life. By that it all occurs out of order was something I really loved, because it really communicated what it's like to have flashbacks which is something that's really difficult to wrap your head around. Like, even as somebody who has flashbacks. I'm in one place, and then all of the sudden my body and my brain start reacting like I'm somewhere else. Sometimes just my body will start reacting, even though my brain knows where I am. And reading Slaughterhouse-Five was very real for me because of that. I don't have flashbacks as often anymore, but there was definitely a time where I was having them so often that it felt like I was living sort of out of time. Things weren't happening in the right order. So reading Slaughterhouse-Five was kind of a surreal experience.
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Tom
I'm ashamed to admit I've spent the last few months as I've binge-watched every Crash Course (thanks unemployment post college) trying to figure out your age given your references to your younger self and grey hair etc.
I'm even more ashamed to admit I completely forgot despite being told multiple times that you're a published author and that I could have just Googled it. Maybe I deserve to be unemployed. :-p
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I'm ashamed to admit I've spent the last few months as I've binge-watched every Crash Course (thanks unemployment post college) trying to figure out your age given your references to your younger self and grey hair etc.
I'm even more ashamed to admit I completely forgot despite being told multiple times that you're a published author and that I could have just Googled it. Maybe I deserve to be unemployed. :-p
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Matthew
Linear storytelling is only good for history, but if you want to tell about the after effects the nonlinear is superior. If I write about 9/11 it will start years after with a drone strike that destroys a wedding party. In stead of detailing the work up to the attacks, I crafted a story of oppression from various sides that depict the middle population that didn-t want either set of actions.
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Linear storytelling is only good for history, but if you want to tell about the after effects the nonlinear is superior. If I write about 9/11 it will start years after with a drone strike that destroys a wedding party. In stead of detailing the work up to the attacks, I crafted a story of oppression from various sides that depict the middle population that didn-t want either set of actions.
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Just
I just finished the book last night and I am honestly speechless. I was asked if I liked it and I didn-t know how to answer. It felt so. weird? Real? Melancholy? I don-t even know. But I think it-s an absolutely excellent book
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I just finished the book last night and I am honestly speechless. I was asked if I liked it and I didn-t know how to answer. It felt so. weird? Real? Melancholy? I don-t even know. But I think it-s an absolutely excellent book
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rdecredico
The Tralfamadorians are real. We know this because they appear in other works.
This episode is very disappointing as Mr Greene really does not seem to understand some of the major issues and themes.
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The Tralfamadorians are real. We know this because they appear in other works.
This episode is very disappointing as Mr Greene really does not seem to understand some of the major issues and themes.
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candler
Your videos are very good and interesting but your jokes are awful, I think I speak for everyone in the audience when I say to cut back on the attempt at comedy and leave it to the professionals, ie Kurt V
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Your videos are very good and interesting but your jokes are awful, I think I speak for everyone in the audience when I say to cut back on the attempt at comedy and leave it to the professionals, ie Kurt V
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greenspringvalley
I didn't read the book but so far it sounds like a traumatized person who can't deal with actual events but he can deal with fictitious likenesses with which he tries to work through his trauma.
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I didn't read the book but so far it sounds like a traumatized person who can't deal with actual events but he can deal with fictitious likenesses with which he tries to work through his trauma.
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Brendan
I'm confused by the people who thought the Trafmaldorians were actually real. Didn't you read everything with Kilgore Trout? The books he writes that are clearly inspirations for Billy's fantasies?
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I'm confused by the people who thought the Trafmaldorians were actually real. Didn't you read everything with Kilgore Trout? The books he writes that are clearly inspirations for Billy's fantasies?
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