In our opinion, Billy is not travelling through time but on the other hand he is a war veteran who is affected by the war's aftermath. Billy after serving in the war also suffered an airplane crash, and was the only one to survive. He claims that he was captured by a flying saucer after his accident. This idea is also revisited when his daughter with her Edwardian piano like legs stops trusting him, and mentions how he did not mention about Tralfamadore and the flying saucer before the accident. He gives a shrewd reply that the "time was not ripe."By: Parvathy & Puja
Billy is simply a veteran who relives certain moments of his life which he renders importance to, and through this paradox Vonnegut renders the uncertain nature of life. One should take life as it comes, and a small change in the natural order could disrupt the entire sequence. We do not have power over what we do or our impulse, but we do have control over what we think! This concept of being 'unstuck in time' renders Vonnegut a unique voice that distinguishes his voice from the rest. Vonnegut conveys the true thoughts of soldiers who have seen and surpassed death.
Nicely put. I think that your notion about time travelling within our thoughts was particularly interesting. I can sure visit the past, but the future is trickier.
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