theories or common sense?

Candide seems to be a man who just "goes with the flow" in life. This can be viewed with many different opinions. They just depend on your personal aspects, and how you have been brought up and raised in your family. Candide does not voice out his opinion unless in danger, this can be a smart idea depending on the situation. In chapter 2, Candide is put into the military. When this happened, he did not argue or try to get out of it like most men would; instead, he just joined and tried to get out as soon as possible. After that, Candide runs into a conflict where he must choose whether to be executed or tortured. In this instance, he chooses to voice out his opinion and try to save his hide. This does not work out as effectively as he wished, but fortunately, he was saved by the king of Bulgars, who showed him pity and let him go as long as he served in their army. once again, Candide just follows through.

Not only does Candide just flow through his life, he also follows the advice of any who is wise enough to provide it. In the novel, Candide, Voltaire shows the effectiveness of following theories. "[t]here is no effect without a cause," is the theory Pangloss tells Candide before he goes off into the war. Candide follows this theory throughout his journey. I personally wonder, "Was this a smart thing to do?" Theories are just hypothesis' that have not been proven. To follow an idea that has not been proven, and to apply it to your life may not be the smartest thing to do; although, this theory seemed to work for Candide. The theory he chose to follow was based on common sense. This allowed him to follow it without risking very much. If you choose to follow theories like this one, then it wont cause a problem; but if you choose to follow theories that have no way to be proven unless by experience, then you choose to risk whatever is present.

Slaughtehouse-5 chapter 9

Chapter 9 involves the death of Valencia. In the very beginning of the chapter, Valencia hears of Billy's plane accident. She goes hysterical and speeds her cadillac to the hospital. On the way there, Valencia cannot concentrate on her driving because she is so worried on Billy's condition, that she crashes into another car and leaves the scene of the accident, then she goes the wrong way on the highway, and then crashes into the hospital. This crazy drive resulted in the her death. Coincidentally, both unconscious, Billy and Valencia pass each other in the hospital. One was going in the direction of the operation room, and the other on the way to the recovery room.

While in the recovery room, Billy is put next to a man recovering from a skiing accident who also was an air- force historian. He is writing a book about World War 2 and it contains a part in which the destruction of Dresden took place. Billy overhears him talking about the facts he was going to put in his book about what happened in Dresden, and he tells him that he was there for the whole thing and knows exactly what happened. Because of the injury Billy had on his head, the historian thought he was crazy and did not want to believe what Billy was saying. He quizzed him about Dresden for a while and then Billy was taken home by his daughter. He, knowing and wanting to reveal the truth about Dresden, escapes to New York and and sees many works involving Montana. He then time travels to the time where Montana is breast feeding their baby and reveal that she knows when Billy has been time traveling. This astonishes Billy, and even more so, the locket on her neck with the same serenity prayer as the one in his office astonishes him.

Again Vonnegut shows how Billy's mind has changed with the war. He shows the dangers war can have and he makes his negative opinion of war very clear.

Vonnegut chapter 8

Chapter 8 consists of a Nazi propagandist who tries to turn the american soldiers away from their original duty. Derby, being the leader, refuses to stray away from the original duty imposed on them by their captain. Nearly seconds after, an air-raid comes in the siren goes off for the soldiers to seek shelter and protection. This raid completely contradicts what the propagandist said before the siren. This made any soldier who began to change his mind and want to go to the Russian side, change their mind again back to their original thoughts. With this part of the story, the author shows how gullible soldiers can become after spending only a few weeks on the battlefield. They become too overwhelmed, and too traumatized to continue with what they began, so when someone comes and offers a better option to what they are currently doing, they consider it; even though it may not be as good as what they are making it seem.

Later in the chapter, Billy travels back to where his daughter blames an old friend of his statements about the Tramalfadorians. Almost instantly after this memory, Billy travels to another time where Trout, a ladies man, drops salmon into a very attractive woman's cleavage. During the party, Billy has another time travel to the night where Dresden was destroyed. It affects Billy very strongly, and he again time travels to Tramalfadore. While he is there, he tells Montana, who is 6 months pregnant, a story about the destruction of Dresden. Vonnegut shows how disturbed Billy's mind has become within being in the war. They can no longer be normal and as they were before.

slaughterhouse-five chapter 7

In this chapter, Vonnegut continues with Billy and the Tramalfadorians, specifically Valencia. He tells about Billy's departure from the Tramalfadorians and his plane crash with the four- eyed bastards barbershop quartet. They sing many songs before the horrid crash, one which is about a polish man, reminds Billy of a hanging he witnessed of a Polish man who had sex with a german woman. With this memory, Vonnegut shows the extremities different consequences can have in different places. Different cultures view certain acts as vulgar and unacceptable, while others view them as gross and impolite but not a big deal; being in the war introduced this thought to Billy.

Later in the chapter, Billy travels to the time where he fractures his skull, but survives and is taken to a hospital by Austrian skiers. The next time travel was to a syrup factory. In this factory, Billy discovers the workers secret. The malnourished ones, sneak and hide spoons all around the building and when not being watched, they take small spoonfuls and eat it. At this time, Billy was scrawny and malnourished; therefore, he followed what the workers did and took a sample of the syrup. The minute it touched his lips, his body shivered in delight. Seeing that Derby was also in need of good nourishment, Billy snuck a spoonful of the syrup out of a small window that connected to the outside where Derby was working, and gave him a mouthful of syrup. Gratefully, Derby smiles and instantly feels much better. He even begins to cry of joy. With this, Vonnegut shows how the war teaches soldiers to watch out for each other and make use of all the resources they have. This is a very good skill to acquire and it is very useful.

Thesis

Thesis Statement: The anti-war novel, Slaughterhouse Five, is used to show the devastating effects of war.

The first point I found, that can be useful for my analytic essay, is: Kurt Vonnegut tries to reveal the foolishness of the human mind through the anti-war novel, Slaughterhouse Five. He depicts the war with so many worthless killings; such as, "one guy i knew really was shot in Dresden for taking a teapot." (1)

The second point I found that also supports my thesis statement is: Acting foolishly, Billy is used as an example of the humans who are also against the war. He believes that the world will be destroyed by the war, "And I have lit my way in a prison at night with candles from the fat of human beings who were butchered by the brothers and fathers of those school girls who were boiled. Earthlings must be the terrors of the Universe." (116)

My Chapter 6

Within this chapter, I see how Slaughterhouse-Five uses irony and hyperbole in a humerous way. Previously in the book, I took everything too literally. The book seemed melancholy and not very interesting. In my english class, my teacher, Mr. Tangen, suggested taking the book not so literally, but with a light and humorous mind. When I did my reading that night, I tried to apply what Mr. Tngen had suggested and I saw all the hidden jokes Kurt Vonnegut put into the novel. I read certain parts twice so that I could be sure not to miss the literal meaning and the humorous meaning. "The Englishman with Lazzaro's feet was colonel who had given Billy his knockout shot. The Blue Fairy Godmother was embarrassed, and angry too. 'If i'd known i would have ... " (page 127) This quote shows how hyperbole is used to add humor to the novel. Vonnegut uses the common and well known image of a fairy godmother, a soft and very sweet character, in a violent and revengeful way. He makes the image and the version from the novel an oxymoron. "..." In this quote, Lazzaro tells them of how envious he is that they are going to Dresden. He tells them of how safe it is and how great it would be for them to go over there. Ironically, when they get there, they are bombed just as Lazarro had told them would not happen.

Vonnegut Chapter 5

Within this chapter, Billy travels back to various times in his past. Vonnegut reveals certain information so that the reader understands Billy and his actions better. Billy goes back to a time where the tramalfadorians teach him of the seven diffrent sexes. This confuses Billy, but he does not question the subject any further.

"There isn't any particular relationship between the messages except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time." At this point, Billy has the Tralfamadorian novel explained to him. Vonnegut uses this as a model for the story. The irony of Vonnegut using this strategy, is that he, like Billy, also does not completely understand the ability to pick up and choose his moments.

Vonnegut later explains the reasons as to why he travels back in time. He shows certain passages of his life so that we understand the reasons why he does what he does.