So I’m reading Slaughterhouse-Five – my first time reading anything by Vonnegut. I’m about two-thirds of the way through, and I like it a lot. I was already somewhat familiar with the plot, themes, and similarities to Vonnegut’s actual experiences, and I figured it was about time I actually read the book.
Anyway, I’m at the point where Billy Pilgrim first sees Dresden:
quote: Somebody behind him in the boxcar said, “Oz.” That was I. That was me. The only other city I’d ever seen was Indianapolis, Indiana.
Okay, I get that Vonnegut himself described Dresden as “Oz” when he first saw it. That’s simple enough. What I don’t get is the last sentence. He can’t mean it literally because he at least attended Cornell before going to war, but I can’t think of any other way for it to make sense.
I’m sure I’m just missing something simple. Can someone clue me in?
Posted by dantesparadigm (Member # 8756) on :
I think it's safe to assume the only other city Billy Pilgrim had seen was Indianapolis, while Vonnegut's experiences may have been a little different. Vonnegut's description of Dresden is still valid because the city in it's prime would have had a vastly different, old world look than the relatively new New York.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
He may also not consider Ithaca a city, in the sense of metropolis. Possibly Ithaca wasn't much of a city in 1941-42, when Kurt attended.
-Bok
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
Thanks guys. Good points. I figured I was reading too much into it. It just seemed so deliberately stated I thought there might be something more significant to it than that.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Bok, are you on Goodreads? I think I'd enjoy looking at your reviews of stuff.
Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
Awesome book. Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Ic, nope. Even if I were, I'd only be reviewing old stuff, since i don't get to read enough anymore.
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