Number 3: Throughout literature, the number three can be found, and most of the time, it is used to refer back to the bible. In the bible, the number three can be seen 467 times. Examples of this are in the Holy Trinity, the resurrection of Jesus on the third day, and the three wise men. Vonnegut used the “three” in “on the third day of wandering, somebody shot at the four from far away.” This pays reference to the resurrection of Jesus when he rose on the third day. Although Vonnegut does not directly mention the bible, readers can connect the two. Kurt uses the “Three” fifty times throughout his novel, “Slaughterhouse-Five.” 

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Azure: Azure, or the color blue, symbolizes strength and sacredness. However, some perceive it to be dangerous and demonic. Take the example of how the “blue” eyes of the German soldiers were watching as Weary beat up Billy. This could be perceived as a threat to Billy’s safety or the general heinous soldiers that Hitler looked for. 

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Tralfamadore/Tralfamadorians fatalism: The Tralfamadorians symbolize a way of Vonnegut's subconscious mind escaping reality and looking back to provide some sense to the madness he's enduring. Vonnegut time travels when he feels anxious and stressed, but he also does it to give a bigger picture of the world. In this fashion, he can express his thoughts and blame them on a fictional character. 

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Birds' illusion vs. reality: The bird's chirp was mentioned at the end of chapters one and two. Some suspect this could represent a book's cycle or beginning and end. However, the birds signify much more; they symbolize life and how it continues after destruction. This is a sort of “so it goes,” “that’s life,” or “move on” because after someone is mourned for that period, they eventually become forgotten. People move on, laugh, perform their daily routine, hug those who are here, and the birds chirp another day. This symbolizes that no matter what happens, however many atrocities are committed, life will continue, and so comes another day. Authors like Kurt Vonnegut write unique pieces of literature like this to bring awareness to severe problems in the world and hopefully create some change. Things will never change unless we ALL own up to our flaws and change the world, but until that miracle happens, the cycle will continue, and so will the chirping of the birds which go “Poo-tee-weet.”

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Patriotism - Patriotism is portrayed as an excuse to create war. The need to protect their country eventually leads people to commit atrocious and violent acts against people. 

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Apathy and passivity - Slaughterhouse-Five is an anti-war novel with the main character, a pacifist. Kurt uses both Billy and his book to express his feelings about conflict and war. Billy Pilgrim is a man who prefers to adapt to different situations rather than be challenging. This character has never portrayed any offensive or aggressive behavior throughout the story.  His lack of courage makes people treat him as a weak and absurd clown, but even when he is treated in such a manner, Billy never loses his cool. 

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So it goes- It was a consistent motif repeated after unfair events showing a sort of fatalistic attitude towards life. The author purposely used the saying to make the reader rebel and understand that although “death is inevitable, some can be prevented” (Greenwood). Because this book is an Anti-war book, the reader can see how war has taken many lives and made death almost seem meaningless by glossing over it with “So it goes”..”

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Death: In “Slaughterhouse-five,” the Tralfamadorians kidnapped Billy and changed his mindset about death. He was told to believe that death isn't something to be sad about. This can be explained due to their views of the fourth dimension, meaning they can see everything all at once. This view shows hoe although we may perceive someone in pain or dead, they are acceptable in many more moments. Billy is taught to gloss over death with the phrase, “So it goes.”