The Water was Dead

The Water was Dead

In the veteran’s hospital, Billy claims that there is still life on his bedside table. He considered three lipstick-stained cigarettes (one burning), two pills and a glass of water life. I wonder why? The burning cigarette can maybe be considered alive, but what about the rest? In my eyes, I see it as a cruel intent for sarcasm. This point is proved when Billy proclaims the water’s state of death.

“The water was dead. So it goes. Air was trying to get out of that dead water. Bubbles were clinging to the walls of the glass, to weak to come out.” (Pg. 101) Vonnegut displays his pessimistic point of view through his character’s mind. Billy uses personification by killing the water, which signifies the futileness of war. Water cant be legitimately dead, war cant either. Nevertheless they can both reach a point after a period of time where it no longer has a purpose or function. Water is not good or refreshing, and war has lost its purpose; people are suffering and dying while nothing is being solved. The air trying to escape refers to the soldiers trying to survive war, in this case Billy himself. The bubbles hanging in the wall (glass) are judged for being  “to weak to come out”.   Soldiers in war are constantly holding on to whatever comes across them with a hope for life. Some, like the bubbles, are to weak to keep on going and die, are captured, or simply give up.

Finally, the bubbles remain trapped in the water almost forever. Soldiers bear this captivity as well. Some literally stay there, or at least their corpse does. Others are physically free, but their minds and spirits remain stuck in war with an infinite traumatic suffering. Ask Billy if you don’t believe me…