On the Train Towards Tralfamadore

  • Pamela Smithers
Keywords: American Literature, Kurt Vonnegut, Djuna Barnes, Slaughterhouse-5, Nightwood, Vietnam War, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

This piece was written as a dialogue between Djuna Barnes' character 'Dr.' Matthew O'Connor, and Kurt Vonneguts' character, Billy Pilgrim. Both Nightwood and Slaugherhouse-Five take place in the historical context of World War II. However, as Vonnegut wrote his novel in the 1960s during the Vietnam War, interesting parallels can be drawn between the two periods and characters. Billy Pilgrim approaches the doctor with hopes that he can suggest an antidote to the syptoms of PTSD.

Published
2014-10-30
Section
American Literature