Fate in Slaughterhouse-Five

The idea of fate is represented many times throughout Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five. The phrase "So it goes," is the most obvious and repeated suggestion that life continues and there really is nothing a person can do to change it.

There are many scenes that show Billy's belief in fate. One of the first times we see a suggestion of fate is when Billy is following Weary and the two scouts. He is shot at, but does not respond. He is completely unconcerned and allows the gunman a second chance.

We also can look at Billy's explanation of Tralfalmadore's views on life and death. They say that all moments in time have always existed and will always exist. This is also where the phrase "So it goes," comes in.

Another point in the story that may suggest fate to the reader is during the scene after the scouts ditch Weary and Weary is winding up to kick Billy in the spine. That is the exact moment the Germans show up, preventing Billy from paralysis or death. Obviously, this may just have been a necessary interference by the author - it would not have made a very good book if the main character was paralyzed and left for dead in a snow bank in the first 51 pages.

Another portion of the book is the reference to the serenity prayer that Billy kept on his office wall. After the prayer passage, the narrator explains that "Among the things Billy Pilgrim could not change were the past, the present, and the future." Basically, re-inforcing the idea of fate and that no matter what decisions a person made, their fate was already decided.

As an American prisoner was pulled out of rank and beaten (pg 91), the American asked "Why me?" Then the German who was beating him replied "Vy you? Vy anybody?" As if there were no reason, but it had already been decided and there was nothing that could be done about it.

On pg 103, we get a discussion of death between Billy's mother and Rosewater. They place no emotion on the topic and seem to act as if death is no big deal. It's just something that happened/happens.

Then we can also look at Billy's thoughts on his own marriage. He accepts it as inevitable and since he's already "seen" most of it, knows it will be at least bearable all the way. He seems locked into his life and has no desire to change things, never questioning what if. He even thinks of his contribution to the green berets (his future son) after having sex with his wife.

Even when thinking of his own wife's death or later in the bookstore of Jesus Christ's death, Billy's only response is "So it goes."

Near the end of the book, Billy addresses the tralfalmadore's thoughts on death again, mentioning their great interest in Darwin and explaining "that those who die are meant to die."

The entire book takes us through many moments in Billy Pilgrim's life, but not one of those involves him trying to change the future or the present. He simply accepts everything as inevitable and believes that his past, present and future have always existed and always will. Of the many themes involved in Slaughterhouse-Five, it is not difficult to see the way that fate plays into each moment.