The Use Of Satire In Kurt Vonnegut’s Writings
Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most known satirical writers of our time. A common idea found in some of his novels is the foolishness of both men and society. This idea can be found in three of his novels The Sirens of Titan, Slaughterhouse-five, and Cat’s Cradle where the author allows the reader to see the defect in mankind through false beliefs such as religion and war. When reading those novels one begins to question society and what they believe in when they are not backed up with any logical reasoning.
In the novel The Sirens of Titan, Kurt Vonnegut talks about science. In order for science to be true, it must always be backed up, unlike religious beliefs. He says, “Quit talking the language of science to each other! Nothing will be restrained from you which you have imagined doing if you all keep on talking the language of science to each other, and I don’t want that!”. Vonnegut tries to send a message to the people to learn about science in order to realize what is belief is true and what is not. He also draws some importance that we know very little meaning, that people don't know what is real and what is not. The people don't care enough to learn about science hence, not knowing what is real. Even though there is so much to lean the people are happy living surrounded by false facts.
The novel Slaughterhouse-five is based on Kurt Vonnegut's travels during the time of war. In this book, he believes that war is one of the biggest defects of mankind. He explains in the novel the number of people that die during the war and how people don't even realize it. The advocates of nuclear disarmament seem to believe that, if they could achieve their aim, the war would become tolerable and decent. They would do well to read this book and ponder the fate of Dresden, where 135,000. . . Hiroshima killed 71,379 people. He tries to give the readers the idea that mankind accepts war but, once they look at the numbers they would know how horrible it is. Kurt Vonnegut tries to question the idea of war and tries to figure out how barbaric the idea of war is.
In the novel, Cat's Cradle Kurt Vonnegut really focuses on the religious and the scientific aspect. He tries to convey his ideas to the readers that religion is based on lies and how science can be a way to disprove it. In the novel, Vonnegut talks about a Bokononism which is a fictional religion that everyone follows. ‘I do not intend that this book be a tract on behalf of Bokononism. I should like to offer a Bokononist. . . lies will not understand this book either. ’ Here, Vonnegut is criticizing all of the religions. I find this kind of funny he says he might as well say that all they are about to read is considered to be a lie.
Kurt Vonnegut is a satirical author who tries to covey the idea about all the defects of men. In the novel I am going to write I am going to using the same satirical element he uses. I am also going to write about the idea the people just accept what information is given to them and don't question all the ideas and beliefs that they were raised by. All these ideas can be found in the three novels The Sirens of Titan, Slaughterhouse-five, and Cat’s Cradle.
