In chapter 5, Valencia is pressing Billy to tell her about the war. She let him know that she was proud he was a solider, even though it was an awful experience. A person can't let go of all of the death they saw, and for some, they never got over the nightmares.
However, Billy came across a truth that alarmed him. The epitaph would read "Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt" (122). He thought it would make a good fit for when his time comes. What do you think the meaning of it is?
The author used a whole page, perhaps to make this point stand out to the readers. I see it as serenity. Maybe it will be on Billy's tombstone after he dies. He will no longer have to see pain and death, and hear the screams of soldiers around him. When he dies, nothing will hurt anymore, and the war might be over; all is beautiful now...
I agree, Vonnegut did not want us to miss that quote. A writing on a tombstone written in the past tense would lead us to believe that Billy felt that way about his life. Given Billy's fairly cynical outlook on life, an optimistic claim inscribed on his grave seems uncharacteristic. However, he seems very attached to it.
ReplyDeleteThe phrase, "Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt," sounds to me like a reassurance to his loved ones, as if he was saying, "Don't worry, I didn't suffer during my life". It could also be a piece of advice to others, to look at their own lives as an opportunity to learn and grow emotionally, and to take the best part of every situation. The quote could be Billy's way of saying,"Live the life that I should have".
But Billy did suffer during his life, he was not perfect. "Everything was Beautiful and nothing hurt." Is a comment to sooth his loved ones. In a way its a white lie. A fake term only to protect the ones he loved. He is very unselfish when it comes to this, he is very put together and strong, because he is willing to lie, in order to keep his loved ones happy.
ReplyDeleteBut Billy did suffer during his life, he was not perfect. "Everything was Beautiful and nothing hurt." Is a comment to sooth his loved ones. In a way its a white lie. A fake term only to protect the ones he loved. He is very unselfish when it comes to this, he is very put together and strong, because he is willing to lie, in order to keep his loved ones happy.
ReplyDelete