Tralfamadorians

Illusion of free will

Tralfamadorians

Tralfamadorian Perceptions

Darwin

Why me ?

Jesus

Thesis

Darwin's theory of natural selection agrees with the Tralfamadorian's determinism

Version of social Darwinism that Vonnegut tries to disapprove throughout the novel

A crusader who tried to change things

Something that is impossible in a Tralfamadorian perspective

American war philosophy

Tralfamadorian philosophy

• Tralfamadorians are independent from time
• Billy creates his own alternate universe
• Tralfamadorians are very optimistic about life
• Ability to relive all the happy moments in their life
• More emotionnaly stable than humans

• The American government feed the media all the "happy" moments of the war
• They use superior bombs and then lie about it
• The American public feel happy about the war and give their support
• Vonnegut demonstrates how sick and disgusting war is

“If I hadn’t spent so much time studying Earthlings,” said the Tralfamadorian, “I wouldn’t have any idea what was meant by ‘free will.’ I’ve visited thirty-one inhabited planets in the universe, and I have studied reports on one hundred more. Only on Earth is there any talk of free will.” (Chapter 4).

"I am a Tralfamadorian, seeing all time as you might see a stretch of the Rocky Mountains. All time is all time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is.Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I've said before, bugs in amber.'" (Chapter 4).

Conclusion

American war philosophy

Tralfamadorian philosophy

The Tralfamadorians funcion in the same way as dreams and mythology

Billy: "Why me ?"

"That is a very Earthling question to ask, Mr. Pilgrim. Why you ? Why us for that matter ? Why anything ? Because this moment simply is. Have you ever seen bugs trapped in amber ?... Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why."

Bugs in amber comparison- time is fixed like a solid block of amber

Parallel between human beings in time and characters in a story

He compares humans to “bugs,” incapable of driven thoughts and actions, floundering in “amber” — stuck in fate’s solidity

Tralfamadorian philosophy enables Billy to come in terms with his life

Vonnegut uses the Tralfamadorians as an alien perspective to comment on the absurdity of modern life

Lack of free will

Tralfamadorians view all creatures and plants as machines

The Tralfamadorians give Billy a philosophy through which he finds peace of mind. Vonnegut uses the Tralfamadorians to demonstrate his thoughts on the absurdity of human conduct while also revealing his philosophy of life throughout the novel.

• There is no free will in Billy's alternate universe
• He wants to escape from reality and the absurdity of war
• He becomes unstuck in time
• Cause and effect relationship (watching a movie backwards)

Tralfamadorians

Seeking an escape from his miserable existence and the absurdity of war and hardship, Billy implies that his life’s course is as fixed and immovable as the “Rocky Mountains”

Strong correlation made by Vonnegut

by Raphel Jomaah