Vanish automatically Essay Example for Free

Vanish automatically Essay The pages of human history, daubed in bloodshed, more recently that of World War I, World War II and the war in Nanking (China) ask a crying question. How to make this Planet Earth heaven-like? The answer is simple and direct. Eyes full of understanding, heart full of love and the life that refuses conflicts—these alone are enough! But then how to fight this malicious tendency among human beings and intense craving for violence and hatred? Heartfelt care and concern, an understanding approach, and tender regard for the feelings of fellow human beings are the necessary prerequisites to heal the inner wounds of one section of humanity caused by another. If human beings have to find a new identity for them, and make tangible efforts towards achieving the goal of ‘the world is one family,’ we need to learn to forgive and forget the bitterness of the past in order to build a new identity. This goal can not be achieved by any ‘isms. ’ The inner core of every human being is essentially divine, even that of the worst villain. It just needs to be revealed to him to help him align himself with his true personality Peace is possible†¦. Kurt Vonnegut perhaps feels that such an ideal state is not achievable on this Planet Earth; therefore, he introduces Planet Tralfamador in his book. Even that is not going to solve the problem relating to peace. It is futile to cross the moon and beat the stars, to get peace. Peace is within; one has to dive deep and fire the Light missiles for inner construction; then only outer destruction is preventable. Kurt argues that war conditions create total loss of humanity. As for the individual undergoing special suffering, as the prisoner of war, the collapse of his individuality and self-respect is complete. He undergoes most humiliating experiences that totally shatter him. Billy Pilgrim is one such prisoner-of-war, but he is unstuck in the wheel of time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. Vonnegut’s devastating experience as an American prisoner of war, the firebombing of Dresden, is candidly reflected and explained in the book. Kurt’s other argument is that power corrupts—absolute power corrupts absolutely and brings out the worst in man, in war-situations. Slaughterhouse-G-Five is the name of the camp where Prisoners of War are held as captives. Prisoners of War and slaughterhouse—these words make a horrible combination and one is frightened to think about the consequences that would follow. The story of the book is known for its peculiarities. With no characters and no dramatic confrontations, a strange situation manifests. Most of the characters have lost charm for life, they see no definite purpose in living, resigned to the circumstances, and live as if they are born to walk up to the grave. In the grim circumstances prevailing with no hope for improvement, humanity has turned cynical. One is unable to meet the vicissitudes hotly pursuing one after another. Everything is so hopeless and one is unable to see the ray of hope or peace from anywhere. Each one lives like the punctured tier—directionless and destination less. With no forward movement, the life turns like the rudderless boat controlled by other external, powerful forces, which subdue the personality of human beings. In a war situation or when you live life as the prisoner-of-war, many grave uncertainties bother you. You don’t know what is in store for you the next moment. Another technique employed by Kurt is that he reveals the story from the voice of the narrator Ethan Hawke, who reads it in his inimical style. The reader gets the feeling that a secret is being revealed to him slowly and steadily, without intermission. You feel as if you are flying in the outer world with the wings of imagination provided to you by Hawke’s narrative style. As his narrations and explanations crystallize and struggle to achieve the form, Kurt reaches the borders of spirituality. The ignoble human beings will always remain ignoble, without any possibility for forward movement, unless they take shelter under the immutable laws of Nature (God). Because only that power is Immutable and Omnipresent! All else is transient, Kurt argues. This is an anti-war novel. All wars are enacted in the minds by the ambitious politicians and generals first. An ordinary soldier has no role in creating tragic histories for the sake of personal aggrandizements of the leaders. Some leaders create the war, on some leaders the war is thrust, but once the war begins, their mental make up becomes identical-to win the war at any cost and for that they destroy the enemy employing the most savage methods. Kurt expresses his great anguish why the city of Dresden was bombed killing over 100,000 civilians, who had no direct role in the war. The important theme of the book is fate. It is in the fitness of things that the prayer of serenity appears twice in the book. Permanent peace will not dawn by fighting wars first and then sitting across the table in big conferences to negotiate peace. Such exercises have proved futile in the past; they give the same results even now. Kurt seems to say that wars can not be avoided—but he is wrong on this count. An individual, ipso facto, the politicians and the leaders need not cross the frontiers of their enemy country but transcend their own mind-barriers. When the mind barrier is transcended, all differences of opinions cease. With no scope for confrontation, it is peace at last! When the thought process is changed, the action process also changes. When the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed; when the mind is changed, the man is changed; when the man is changed, the society is changed; when the society is changed, the nation is changed; such changed nations are hopes for world peace, a world without wars! World War III will rest for ever in the bosom of Nature!