Carlsbad Caverns (SF Chapter 5)

This chapter restates the Tralfamadorian view of the world, since they the start position, end poistion and all the ones in between they see the stars as "luminous spaghetti" (87). I also liked how they describe their books, which all depict quick little moments that when seen together in the non order the aliens see them in they produced "an image if life that is beautiful and surprising and deep" (88). The chapter then detours to a trip to the Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns that Billy took with his parents. In the Canyon, Billy is afraid and annoyed, but in the Caverns he feels fear until the lights go out, and then he doesn't even seem to care if he's still alive, which is closer to the indifferent Billy we've seen. Two bits worth mentioning happen on page 91. The first, is that they were liekly dead before their names were put down in a camp ledger, which comes accompanied with "So it goes" despite the fact that they were being declared alive rather than dead. The second is that after being struck by a guard, an American asks him why and is answered with "Vy you? Vy anybody?" all of which is reminscent of the answer given by the Tralfamadorians when Billy asks why he has been kidnapped, "That is a very Earthling question to ask, Mr. Pilgrim. Why you? Why us for that matter? Why anything? Because this moment simply is." (77) This happen for no reason. They simply are, and people are a little ridiculous trying to find a why. The British prison camp is almost like a joke, a happy little prison in the middle of a death camp, with bright candles made out of dead people. The americans really have seen the worst of war and wander in like dead people to a disorienting semi-paradise. I think this ridiculous situation is the reason why Billy starts laughing and can't stop, because it's all so unreal. On page 104, Vonnegut openly discusses the fourth dimension and supernatural creatures. He pruposely mentions a book that deals with "crazy" people that are truly afflicted by fourth dimension ails, which I think is a subtle way of saying that Billy is not crazy, he's justs tuck halfway through to the fourth dimension. Billy also experiences a very Tralfamadorian moment of page 105, where he sees Edgar Derby reading by his bed, at the same time he contemplates his future memory of Derby being killed. A quote that really stuck a chord with me, though I don't know why, was this "Billy didn't think there would be a blank cartridge issued in a squad that small, in a war that old" (105) On page 106, Vonnegut refers back to chapter one, with a mention of the Children's Crusade and the fact that wars are fought by stupid kids instead of tempered old men. Later on page 128 a German major talks about the civilization he enjoys with the British, which just shows that war is only civilzed for those who don't fight it. A small observation of mine is how odd Billy's wife name is, as Valencia is very latin for a girl from upstate New York, especially late 40s early 50s. Billy also acts like a bystander to his own life. He doesn't want to marry Valencia, but still akss to do so, because that it what must happen, like the end of the universe with the alien pilot. Nobody wants it, but it has to happen because there is no other way, in fact on page 118 no even Valencia wants to be there, she imagines two different people are there when see and Billy are together. I really like the observation on page 109, about the Gospels just teaching you to kill unconnected people, which must make a lot of sense, because why would we kill so much if they really taught mercy?

On page 112, Billy has become comfortable and used to captivity, parallel to the way he simply became used to war and being cold. In fact, he almost enjoys in, because he has become special, and treasured, and admired. During this, Billy also displays his usual, indifferent attitude towards his circumstances. I laos like the discussion on page 114 about extra sexes we can't see and how odd this are essential to life in a way we can't see. Page 117 also brings alot to light. Tralfamador is not a utopia, it is just as horrible and violent as Earth can be. Earth is in fact a little trivial here, it will be destroyed along with everything else by accident, not being special at all, and it's people have no conception of how to grasp happy times and live in them. Billy can almost do this, as he can escape war to happier times. Very oddly, on page 121, Billy is said to have a crazy thought, which would be agood epitaph for him, and as Vonnegut notes, it would be good for Vonnegut too. It is drawn on the next page "Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt." There's something drawing about it, and I guess it's because that is what people's true vision of Heaven is. No more pain. I felt touched by the Russian who quietly tries to help Billy on page 124 and then just quietly says goodbye when Billy won't talk to him. Despite this being quick, you can feel the desire to connect to someone, to talk, especially wallowing in the shadow of death, and the sad dissapointment you feel when it doesn't happen.

On page 128 Vonnegut shows very keen observations of the nature of poverty in America, which I found very interesting. On page 130 he goes on to say that Americans have no true love between each other, and then sort of back it up on page 132, and says that Barbara, through scolding Billy "{felt} It was very exciting for her, taking his dignity away in the name of love." The end of this chapter introduces Montana Wildhack, a woman Billy seems to truly feel for, or at least more than for his wife.