Slaughter-House and the World

While reading through the topic suggestions for writing assignments 6 through 9, none of them really grabbed my attention, except for the second one: "How would the novel be received in different areas of the world? Would the novel have the same impact in different areas of the world? Would the novel have the same impact in another country or culture?". 


As you may have noticed from my other posts, I have indeed been to Japan recently. I have experienced the culture first hand, and I think that I would do a decent job on this topic. Also, being a mixture of two ethnicities, with complete opposite cultures, has given me some idea of how Slaughter-House Five would be accepted – and interpreted in different cultures.
Slaughter-House Five was written by an American for an American audience.
Yes, there are many themes that can only be picked up by an audience familiar with American society and ideals, however, the topic is universal. War, and the effects of war, has touched every corner of the inhabited world. Also, the novel is centered on the Second World War, which touched all major political powers of the day.


I can also make arguments that Slaughter-House could make a big impact in Japanese society. Japan was completely and utterly devastated during the war, and at the end was left weak and desperate. They had refused to back down and surrender to the Americans because of one thing: Honour. Ever since the time of the samurai, it brought shame to your family to surrender, it was better to commit suicide. After the atomic bombs however, this way of thinking has greatly changed. Many of the strong, stubborn ideals of prior generations were snuffed out. I feel that the Japanese would greatly sympathize with Vonnegut’s message and pathetic characters. The Japanese hate the idea of war, but have learned to accept what has happened in the past. Kurt Vonnegut hates war too, but accepts them “like glaciers”. 


Although I don’t know an awful lot about other cultures around the world, I feel that the subject matter in the novel is very universal. Vonnegut sympathizes with both sides of the conflict, does not glorify death and suffering, and most importantly does not place blame on anyone. 


We are all equal in the eyes of Vonnegut and I think that is the most important thing in an accepting audience.