Humor And Science Fiction By Kurt Vonnegut - 1298 Words

Kurt Vonnegut was a very popular American writer. He wrote novels and short-stories filled with humor and science-fiction. His writing has become so iconic mainly due to his rule breaking literary innovation and the serious moral vision and cutting social commentary incorporated in his writing. One of the most recurring themes discussed by Vonnegut in his work is individuality. He constantly highlights the importance of individuality in an ironic way; by displaying the negative repercussions of an extreme social equality. In this paper I will analyze the topic of individuality in some of Vonnegut’s acclaimed short stories. The first story is â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, which is probably the most famous of his stories regarding individuality. In the story, the government suppresses all creativity and talent by using handicapping materials. The citizens are forced to wear either a headset that prevent them from thinking too long with a constant high-pitched noise for the smarter people, or metal shrapnel to disabilitate those who are strong,or masks to hide particularly attractive people. This makes the entire society equal, no one stronger, smarter, or prettier than the other. This government interference limits the power of the individual. The government does this with the good intention of protecting the self-esteem of less talented, intelligent, or attractive people so that the will not be threatened or hurt by those who exceed them. However, upon achieving this maximumShow MoreRelatedEssay about Slaughterhouse-Five: A Peace Novel1419 Words   |  6 Pages Many of these examples tend to reflec t feelings against war. Kurt Vonnegut is no different and his experience with war inspired him to write a series of novels starting with Slaughter-House Five. It is a unique novel expressing Vonneguts feelings about war. These strong feeling can be seen in the similarities between characters, information about the Tralfamadorians, dark humor, and the structure of the novel. Kurt Vonnegut is an American novelist from Indianapolis, Indiana, born in 1922Read MoreKurt Vonnegut : A Hybrid Of Science Fiction And Satire1716 Words   |  7 PagesLeanne Arata English 11 Mrs. Wheeler 5/8/2016 Kurt Vonnegut The idea of making a work that does not fit into a single category of work is how Kurt Vonnegut has become such a phenomenon. Kurt Vonnegut has a hybrid writing style which allows him to critique human nature and this is evident in his work. A hybrid writer is someone who makes something by combining two different genres to create something new. Vonnegut’s work is a hybrid of science fiction and satire. Satire is an author’s way of sayingRead MoreStyle Analysis of Kurt Vonnegut on Slaughterhouse Five1623 Words   |  7 Pagesbrilliant piece of literature. One example, for instance, is Kurt Vonnegut who may have been stimulated by the war, thus writing Slaughterhouse Ââ€" Five. Though one may categorize this piece as science fiction or even auto - biographical, it can also be interpreted as an anti Ââ€" war piece. Because Vonnegut is classified as a post modernist, one can take into account all the details, such as the similarities between the main character and Vonnegut, the Tralfamadorians, and the style and themes of the novelRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Slaughterhouse Five 1634 Words   |  7 PagesKurt Vonnegut once said, â€Å"So it goes† to describe the unavoidableness of fate. This aspect of seeing terrible things and being able to continue on would become a main theme in his novels. Vonnegut, as an author, received his essential voice by writing about his own experiences, using what would become his signature pessimistic yet humanist view. Vonnegut is described by Lindsay Clark as, â€Å"Worse than a pessimist†¦ he is an eternal optimist doomed to disappointment† (Clark, â€Å"Viewing Four Vonnegut NovelsRead MoreKurt Vonneguts Tragic Path to Success1128 Words   |  5 PagesKurt Vonnegut, was born on November 11, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to American-German parents Kurt Vonnegut (Sr.), and Edith Vonnegut. Vonnegut had an older brother, Bernard and an older sister, Alice. Vonnegut graduated f rom Shortridge High School in Indianapolis in 1940 and went to Cornell University later that fall. Though he majored in chemistry, he was Assistant Managing Editor and Associate Editor of the Cornell newspaper. While at Cornell, Vonnegut enlisted in the United States Army. TheRead MoreKurt Vonnegut s Personal Experiences1599 Words   |  7 PagesTHESIS STATEMENT Kurt Vonnegut’s personal experiences of World War II and the firebombing of Dresden were important factors in determining his writing style and the political and philosophical views that it conveyed. Throughout his works, the overarching message that Vonnegut delivers is the need for love and compassion in a world where humans are helpless against an indifferent fate. PURPOSE STATEMENT Through critical analysis, historical research, and textual evidence, a study on Kurt Vonnegut’s backgroundRead More Comic and Tragic Elements in Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse Five1485 Words   |  6 PagesComic and Tragic Elements in Slaughterhouse Five    Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., is the tale of a World War II soldier, Billy Pilgrim. His wartime experiences and their effects lead him to the ultimate conclusion that war is unexplainable. To portray this effectively, Vonnegut presents the story in two dimensions: historical and science-fiction. The irrationality of war is emphasized in each dimension by contrasts in its comic and tragic elements. The historical seriousnessRead MoreKurt Vonnegut : The Concept Of Postmodernism1598 Words   |  7 Pages he endeavored to associate a theory to the shifting concept of postmodernism; to synopsize different events, experiences, and phenomena in history through a universal appeal to truth. While his supposition, through equation with the poems of Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Olsen, or John Cage - does indeed seem to hold validity; to define postmodernism remains difficult. To define this era would be to violate the premise of the postmodernist that no absolute or definite terms, b oundaries, or truths existRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Cats Cradle 875 Words   |  4 PagesCats Cradle is surfaced around science fiction, religion, and society while keeping a steady sense of humor. The overwhelming theme that I was able to easily relate to, was the biblical connection that was present throughout the novel; specifically, the Book of Ecclesiastes. Along with the sense of humor, the style of writing helped make it easy for any audience to read, understand, and follow. Most importantly it allowed for connections to be easily made. While the book may be encompassed aroundRead MoreThe Life and Writings of Kurt Vonnegut Essay2248 Words   |  9 PagesKurt Vonnegut is celebrated as one of the most successful novelist in the Post-Second World War period in the America. His literary works have had varied impacts on American culture, including the use of the word â€Å"karass† amongst college students, the naming of the pop groups â€Å"Ice Nine Kills† and â€Å"The Billy Pilgrims†, and the frequent use of the term â€Å"So it goes† as written in Vonnegut’s obituary on the New York Times (Farrell, p.ix). This article examines the impacts of Vonnegut’s on his literary