Slaughterhouse Five Free Will Analysis

When thinking of fate and free will in Slaughterhouse Five, the phrase “chains of fate” immediately came to mind. Chains are a means to hold something down, to subjugate it- but also serve as a means of manipulation. When a person is chained, whoever holds the end of their chains have control of them, their life, and their free will. Each of the bronze figures in the sculpture are chained in this way. Each is shackled by an object, concept, or construct that controls them.
The small bronze figures connect the theme of fate to modern contemporary cultural issues. Some of these issues are explored in the book, while others are merely touched upon. The figures on the right are restrained by religion, chance, and time. These concepts are generally

It is controlled by a hand, rather than a concept or idea, and its color is slightly different from the smaller puppets, as it is brighter and more coppery. Its chains are different as well: they are bigger, thicker, and a dull copper in color, rather than bright silver. This puppet is representative of Billy Pilgrim in particular. Billy feels the hands of fate more keenly than anyone else- he is aware of all events that will transpire in his life, and believes he has no control over any of them. After all, “Among the things Billy Pilgrim could not change were the past, the present, and the future.” (Chpt. pg.). Billy is manipulated less by individual ideas, like money or death, as he has already seen his life and knows he will have both. Despite this, he is more closely manipulated than any other figure on the board; each figure has at least the semblance of or belief in free will, while Billy has neither. He hangs off the board with little security or support- the only solid connection he has is his own lack of control. Without it, he has nothing, and so, unlike most humans, he clings to and takes comfort in his fate, rather than fighting against