Censorship In Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-5

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Censorship is defined as the suppression of any books, newspapers, films, and etc. that are obscene or politically unacceptable. Based on this definition, I have a better understanding as to why Slaughterhouse-Five has been banned and or burned on several occasions. The reasons behind the banning and burning of this book are what changed my perspective. The book Slaughterhouse-Five should be banned for children under the age of seventeen because of its lewd content, mention of religion, profanity, and lack of morals.
Books that may make people question how things are in society are often banned. The government itself often pushes for books like these to be banned. (Lusted 24) The censoring of books based on political stance, morality, and …show more content…

Billy Pilgrim is an unpopular complacent weakling, who serves in the army as a Chaplains Assistant. Billy left the military, but after the death of his father he rejoin the military. He resumed his position as Chaplain’s assistant. Billy is seen as a joke when he is a soldier. (Spark notes staff Web) The chaplain Billy worked for was killed in the war , leaving Billy and others stranded in the forest. While wandering around the forest the men were captured by German solders. Becoming prisoners of war the men were kept in slaughterhouses during the bombing of Dresden. Billy’s state of exhaustion of the shot of morphine sends him time tripping, visiting his birth, death, and other events in between without any specific order.(lit charts staff web) After Billy returns rom war he claims to allegedly have been abducted by Tralfamadorians (aliens ). The Tralfamadorians supposedly informed him of his lack of free will because he could alter the time. After returning to Earth, Billy writes a letter to the local radio station predicting his death. He even predicted the manner in which he would die. (Spark notes staff) He claimed to have foreseen his death while on one of his time …show more content…

Even though the “F” word is mainly used when Billy is talking to the other soldiers, it is still considered intense and offensive language for children. Some people view the book as unpatriotic. Slaughterhouse-Five alleviates the idea that one can be good in a war, there is no war hero. Kurt Vonnegut believes America is wrong for the bombing of Dresden and that they have committed a war crime. Kurt does not romanticize the idea of war. The government dislikes this aspect of Vonnegut’s novel. The horrors of war is shown and the government “fears young will not join war after reading “ (Dunlap 166) The tasteless manner that Vonnegut portrays women is disturbing and highly offensive. The author illustrates a scene with women in cages so others could watch them have sex. Young children should not ever have to read about women being portrayed in this way. Children should view the women in their life in a positive manner. They do not need a book sexualizing women and destroying the positive view they have.
The controversial themes of Slaughterhouse-Five are war and free will. Kurt stresses the destructiveness of war. He goes into detail about all the negatives of war. The government has a tendency to romanticize war, Kurt does the exact opposite. Reading the negative mental and physical effects of way may make the children of today decide against joining the

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