"So it goes." pg 75
So it goes. Mustard gas and roses. Ivory and blue. All three of these phrases are frequently repeated throughout the novel. So it goes is a phrase that is repeated after every time anybody dies. And this is a book about war, so people die. A lot. Like, really a lot. Mustard gas and roses is a phrase that is repeated after every time someone gets drunk; it used to describe the smell of their breath. And this is a book about war, so people get drunk. A lot. Like, really a lot. Ivory and blue is a phrase used to describe what people look like when they get cold, usually about people's feet. And this is a book about war (in northernish Europe), so people get cold. A lot. Like, really a lot. The repetition of these phrases helps emphasize certain aspects of the war, like cold, alcoholism, and death, but in a very snide, clever way ( a theme with Vonnegut, I think).
These things definitely stuck out to me too. They connect to all of the things that are negative about war, like you said. Also, your blog makes me laugh and I like it :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, the saying of "So it goes" kind of makes death seem less fearful. It makes the idea of death common and by doing so this allows Billy to handle so many deaths in his life.
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