Slaughterhouse-Five

-We've talked plenty about stereotypes this semester. How are stereotypes used in this novel? Are they used? How are the Germans portrayed? The Russians? The English? The Americans?


I've always loved Vonnegut. I have, in fact, read this book prior to this class. It's one of my favorites.
Stereotypes in this book are certainly prevalent. Once Vonnegut gives someone from a certain country an identity, he keeps that identity for all other characters in the book who are from that country (unless they're a main character, that is)
For instance, Germans are generally portrayed as brutal, ugly and insensitive. Russians all look the same; they're faces like radium clocks, he said, and they wander about like wisps of human beings. The English are all robust and loud, full of life and rosy cheeked, ready to welcome anyone, though they do seem to be in their own little world. And then there are the Americans. Most of the Americans are lumped together as a quiet, sad, lonely, not well equipped group. However, the Americans that stick out, other than Pilgrim, are often portrayed as loud and stupid, fat and ugly, and generally unlikeable characters.
All in all, Vonnegut has a very unkind view of the human race. I remember watching that interview with him in class where he said we should all stop reproducing. I think that's why nobody in the book is written very pleasantly.