Writer Kurt Vonnegu
Kurt Vonnegut is famous American writer whose brilliant works on the themes of the World War II made him famous throughout the whole country along with the whole world for his inimitable use of irony, overtones, ethics and methods of attack. In the following paper, the two literature pieces by him will be analyzed: “Wailing Shall Be in All Streets” and “Slaughterhouse-Five”. Generally, these works appear to be rather similar in their overtones, the use of irony and overtones; however, “Wailing Shall Be in All Streets” seems to be more powerful especially taking into consideration the use of such literature methods as the use of irony, addressing different core motifs and relating ethical issues.
Comparison Wailing Shall Be in All Streets and Slaughterhouse-Five
The two literature pieces under consideration in the following paper can be acclaimed as a strong attack to the motives of those participating in the World War II along with the use of powerful irony. In “Wailing Shall Be in All Streets” we read: “World War II was fought for near-Holy motives. But I stand convinced that the band of justice in which we dealt, wholesale bombings of civilian populations, was blasphemous” (Vonnegut 44). Here the reader may put one’s attention to the overall tone of the phrase. This phrase is very strong and full of spirited ideas concerning the critique of the actions of those who began that disastrous war leading to so much pain, sorrow and destruction. Similar tones are explored in “Slaughterhouse-Five”. In this story the author resorts to the use of analogues implications, concealed addresses, strong word expressions, etc.
In addition, the passage is related to the ideas expressed in “Slaughterhouse-Five” by means of the use of similar ironical addresses and overtones. In “Wailing Shall Be in All Streets” the author resorts to the use of such strong expressions as “near-Holy motives” and “wholesale bombings”. These expressions are very similar to what the reader may explore in “Slaughterhouse-Five”. Such expressions as these strike the mind of any reader by their irony and oxymoron nature. It is very interesting to see that Vonnegut addresses the motives of those who originated the war with a synthesized adjective “near-Holy”. Such strange combination suggests that the author does not believe into the loftiness of the purposes of those who wanted to slaughter just the same people as they, and this is not actually important in this case how such motives might be explained. Further, Vonnegut combines such contrasted things as wholesale and bombing. Such oxymoron is one of the main literature means which can be acclaimed as Kurt Vonnegut’s “visiting card”. Similar combinations can be many times seen in “Slaughterhouse-Five” as well. It is simply mind-blowing how such expressions help the author to express his irony and severe critics about the actions of fascists who originated the war.
Conclusion
Concluding on all the information related above, it should be stated that the two literature pieces by Kurt Vonnegut which are under exploration in this paper can be acclaimed as thought-provoking works on the themes of the World War II. In particular, these stories radiate inimitable irony which seems to criticize the motives of those participating in this war, their conduct and values. In addition, both of the works under consideration apply similar logic when attacking this bad motivation behind the people who started this war.
Works Cited
Vonnegut, Kurt. Armageddon in Retrospect, United States: Putnam Adult, 2008, Print.