The Enlightened Glass Slippers: The End of the Story and the Beginning of a New One

Slaughter-House Five
Kurt Vonnegut

                                          "Poo-tee-weet."

         
          Why is the world silent after war? Are we not brave enough to speak our minds? However, we are unafraid to kill thousands of people, and we feel powerful enough to destroy the world. Then again, at the end of the day we are cowards, we humans, are not able to accept or even recognize our own sins. Thats why we create an alternative reality, where we fantasize about the worlds flaws, where we believe we are"Pinochio," a real boy, but instead we are just wooden puppets. We are wooden dolls, not alive, not real. Billy Pilgrim finds himself in the Russian imprisonment hospital, where he enjoys hiding within Cinderella slippers. Through the eyes of Billy, the rooms of the jail are decorated with golden thrones, ravishing pink curtains, blue-fairy godmothers, and a pair of authentic glass slippers. However, the world outside is full of murder, disgustful crimes, and sorrow. It is not worse out there than in the hospital. The American soldiers are equally week, depressed and deadly, than the one's outside. The only difference between the outside world and the hospital, is that in the hospital soldiers such as Billy Pilgrim, choose to become Cinderella. As this protagonist tries on his pair of glass slippers, he discovers they fit perfectly." Billy Pilgrim was Cinderella, and Cinderella was Billy Pilgrim." (pg.275)

           The story of Cinderella is about a girl who became enslaved by her stepmother. Throughout many years, Cinderella lived with her animal friends, these imaginary creatures were the reason Cinderella got up of bed everyday. However, when the time came for the kingdom's prince to choose a wife at a ball, a fairy godmother appeared and granted Cinderella a carriage, and a dress for the big event, only until midnight. One of her glass slippers was left behind in the palace, as well as an in-loved prince. When the prince searched for the lady who's feet matched the slippers, Cinderella proved she was his love. And they lived happily ever after. So it goes.

         Billy Pilgrim believes he is Cinderella under his military uniform. He convinces himself the world will always have a happily ever after because it is impossible it does not end up this way. Do we not all try to cover our grieves and worries with fantastical reasons and stories? Are adults not always telling us to have a positive attitude, when we know their is nothing positive at all to extract from a situation? Our view of the world is vital for how we choose to live it. Are we going to avert the real world, or are we going to face the truth?

         Billy Pilgrim has taught me that you cannot take anything for granted. For the world is like a bipolar woman during her menopause. You never know what's going to happen, or when its going to happen.  Billy sends this message throughout the book, as an optometrist he attempts to "open" the eyes of his patients, he tries to help the world discover the truth about themselves, about Tralfamadorians.

          Well, as I say good bye to Billy Pilgrim and to Slaughter-House Five, my readers should always remember to become each day a little bit less closed-minded. For the world can surprise you, if you give it a chance, you might discover a new way of life. The truth of life. Do not be deceived by the pretty glass slippers, try on the boots, and they will never betray you. They will actually fit.

Become unstuck.

Ignorant Love Birds

Slaughter-House Five
Kurt Vonnegut


          Many relationships are based on love, however what relationships rely on love to build a self esteem? Billy Pilgrim is the father of Barbara and the ex-husband of Valencia. In both of these relationships, Billy is not actually loved. Barbara demonstrates her dominion over Billy by telling him what to do, and always seeking to fix his mistakes. Pilgrim himself, claims how Barbara does not have a good heart, nor a good purpose when helping him. She seems to believe being able to control Billy will assign her a more important role in the Pilgrim household. In addition, Valencia is described to be a obese woman, although rich, she is one of those people who are to remain single for the rest of their lives. However, this is not the case. Billy Pilgrim marries Valencia, and is then forced to deal with her bipolar and insecure personality. She is constantly fishing for compliments from Billy, that will console her low self esteem.

          Why is Billy always surrounded by unloving companionship? Even at war, Weary would stay behind with "time-traveling" Billy, and say he only remained behind to pursue his duties as a Christian. Pilgrim did not have any kind of emotional importance to Weary, saving Billy was only a matter of good deeds, not love. In all the previous cases, people have used Billy to comfort themselves, and build-up a higher self esteem. 

            During Pilgrim's Tralfamadorian days, he states he was just as happy in the Tralamadorian as on Earth. If Billy lived in a world where time was non-existing, and then he went back to Earth, then he must have known his future. This might be the reason for Billy's lack of life on Earth after war. It might also explain why in the begging of the book, Billy had trouble remembering his war experiences. Well, Tralfamadorians said they lived in a peaceful world because they ignored all evil events. It is possible that Billy might have taken this advice, and erased his traumatic war experiences from his memory. Pilgrim's Tralafamadorian travels ruined his life. This character no longer felt the need to live for anyone or for something. Although Pilgrim lived in truth with himself, he did not value life. 

   
       Why do we keep on living if we don't know our purpose in life? Well, we live to find our purpose. However, those who never encounter a life lecture live for the entertainment of the Earthing life. They live a lie, and it can said that this style of life is wasteful. Nevertheless, the reason people live is because of love. Once they find it, they claim it is the reason they wake up everyday. Love makes adults become hypnotized with its power. It is like a spell, that mesmerizes one's heart with a childish feeling. Love converts grown-ups into children. For this strange feeling, is like "magic." Love makes one do crazy things. After all, ignorance is bliss.  

        There are two things in this world that will make you truly happy. The first is love. The second one is discovering the meaning and the purpose life.

        Billy Pilgrim did not find love. Billy Pilgrim discovered the truth. Billy Pilgrim has a secret, which he cannot share. Billy Pilgrim is alone.