Perfect Sense To Billy example essay topic

784 words
Character Analysis Essay Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, is a novel that makes no sense in itself; yet, when put into context individually with today's events, or life's events in general, makes more sense then if it were clearly spelled out within the pages. By using the character of Billy Pilgram, Vonnegut conveys his points with Billy's reactions and common characteristics. Billy Pilgram could not be any more a human then if he was actually walking amongst us. With basic characteristics of simplicity, confusion and general common sense, any one can relate to what Billy is and was going through.

By successfully portraying this personality of Billy's, Vonnegut creates a complex yet oddly simple character for audiences to follow. For Billy, it truly is a gift to be simple, especially with every thing he must endure. Simplicity is a common trait that most characters in novels lack. Authors are many times trying to create such a complex character that the audience may become lost or even bored with the character. By making Billy so simple, he can create complex events that surround him. With this, Billy shows his general reactions.

Without Billy delving deeply into the events, it in fact leaves room for the audience to have their own interpretation of what Billy may be feeling. A simple character can in turn makes for a more complex novel. Allowing audiences to have a mental interaction of their own will better to help keep them involved in the storyline. Vonnegut is very successful in creating this type of persona in Billy" character.

Confusion can in fact be a trait that is truly over looked now. Billy's own confusion helps to clear up the story for the reader, while leaving Billy more confused then he originally was. Creating confusion for the audience and clarity for Billy also works in the same way. Events that may seem like a whirlwind in the audience's train of thought, yet at the same time, create perfect sense for Billy. At the time, the audience maybe bewildered and wondering what they may have missed, but, if the audience can relate and in fact make connections with the events, it makes perfect sense. Billy is an ideal example of this.

He takes the audience through events at random moments and twists the plot or adds a whole new plot. While the audience is left in Billy's wake of confusion, everything makes perfect sense to Billy himself. As the story goes on and reveals deeper levels, Billy begins to be caught in his own story while the audience can now see the clarity in the entire novel. Vonnegut swiftly uses general human reactions that can be manipulated into perfect characteristics. Common sense is a commodity that is rare and generally lacked in today's society. A simple relatable character with a strong instinct of general common sense helps to convey that there may be a possibility that level headed people are not as rare as once thought.

By simply thinking about a situation and making elementary assumptions, a problem can quickly and efficiently be solved. Billy uses his common sense to better convey simpler points and solutions. This also adds to his simplicity trait, which he inherits so well. Vonnegut brings a point to the audience that by using common sense, problem can simply be solved if not all together eliminated. Billy uses common sense when most other people in certain situations would neglect to use it. Through Billy, Vonnegut conveys that common sense is a trait that would better be reinforced in all characters as well as people.

In conclusion, an author may use character traits to help the audience with finding themselves within a book. Vonnegut uses Billy's characteristics to portray what a human being should show more of them. A character in one book may change the way a person things or may cause a person the delve more into their process of thinking. Vonnegut embraces this and uses it to his advantage when surfacing the sides of Billy.

When an author is more aware of what an audience wants or even lacks, he is able to build a better character to satisfy those needs. The characteristics that Vonnegut chose to emphasize are ones that many people lack. He does in fact, do a wonderful job of getting to the audience by developing these traits. BY using the right traits, an author can cater to any audience.