Comparing Slaughter House Five 'And Catch 22'

Literature and Society: A Comparative Study

History has caused us, as the human race, to subconsciously assume that War is seen to be a product of death, destruction and hatred, a need to seek revenge on those who started the war. That, throughout time, war has been considered meaningful. Is War meaningful or is it better to be seen as meaningless? Were the three most well-known wars of history, World War 1, World War 2 and the Vietnam War, products of a meaningful event that inevitably killed thousands? Or do we need to realise that the only thing meaningful in regards to War, is the literature written by authors or poets who have experienced War and its devastating effects. That authors like Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote his literary classic “Slaughter House Five” in order to make people realise the true meaning behind war. That all war conveys is an attitude of selfishness and arrogance, a product of slavery and victimisation. This is also evident in not just “Slaughter House Five”, but in Joseph Heller’s novel, “Catch 22”. Both these two novels show different but similar viewpoints of war, by emphasising the concerns and ideas of the time periods in which these two novels were written. Today, you are joined with me, Sarah Day, here at the Brisbane

Literature Festival to help discuss why these two novels reflect on the importance of literature.

SLIDE Kurt Vonnegut, known as an American writer and humourist, was born on November 11th, 1922 in Indianapolis. His career spanned over 50 years, in which Vonnegut published many pieces of literature, his most famous publishment was the darkly, satirical novel, “Slaughter House Five”. “Slaughter House Five”, published on March 1969, was known for its antiwar sentiment, which resonated with the ongoing Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was a Cold War that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from the 1st November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30th April 1975. In “Slaughter House Five” Vonnegut makes direct references to the Vietnam War. Such as, in chapter three, when Billy Pilgrim listens to a speech by a marine, who is urging increased bombing of North Vietnam. Chapter Ten also refers to the Vietnam War, in a quote observing that "every day my Government gives me a count of corpses created by military science in Vietnam." This quote conveys that the military weapons of the government caused a count of corpses within the Vietnam War. In reaction to society at the time this novel was published, “Slaughterhouse Five” called attention to various defects in American society. Vonnegut claimed American society as hypocrites, as those who support war haven’t fought in wars, while the veterans most opposed to war are the ones who have actually experienced combat. Although this novel had links to the Vietnam War, Vonnegut mostly aimed ‘Slaughter House Five” at the fire-bombing of Dresden during World War II. The bombing of Dresden is a controversial issue because many claim that the bombing was unnecessary. This was made clear by Vonnegut himself that he opposed the bombing, as he actually experienced the bombings himself. It’s clear that Vonnegut was determined to explore the pointlessness of the bombings, making society at the time have second thoughts about whether the bombings of Dresden were an impulsive, disregarding action. Even up to present day it is still known to contemporary society that people still question the necessity of the fire-bombing. Not just the fire-bombing, but any type of warfare. This was also the same reaction that people had about World War 2, as this is evident in Josephs Heller’s literary classic “Catch 22”.

SLIDE Joseph Heller was born on the 1st May 1923 and passed away on the 12th December, 1999. He was known as an American satirical novelist, short story writer, and playwright. The title of one of his works, “Catch-22”, was one of his most well-known novels. “Catch 22” like “Slaughter House Five” is a satirical novel and was eventually published in 1961 and is still frequently cited as one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century. The novel itself is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944 and was inspired by Heller from his experiences as a bombardier during World War II. However, much like “Slaughter House Five”, “Catch-22” is not only set in World War II, but its tone shapes an attitude toward all wars, not just that one. However, unlike “Slaughter House Five” Heller focused his criticism on the way governments treated their soldiers during war. “Catch-22” basically caused society to rage against war and against the government that used men like replaceable parts. This is why “Catch 22” is a very important piece of literature as it caused society to protest against the government in taking advantage of soldiers. “Catch 22” basically caused society to realise who the ‘real enemy’ was. This is still prevalent up to today’s contemporary society.

“Slaughter House Five” and “Catch 22” are both similar in the way that they both paint a very bleak picture on the meaning of war.

They both refer to War as something that is ultimately destructive and is of no benefit whatsoever to humanity. Both these novels relate to events that happened within similar time periods, and both these novels scored reactions from society at the time. Many of these reactions related to regret, shame and above all, guilt. These two novels are important pieces of literature as they are a product of work designed to understand the concerns and idea of their time. Thus proving that literature has a vital role in society in regards to the concerns and beliefs of a specific time

period.