God Grant Me

I know that of all the events that end the last two last chapters, the silver chain around Montana Wildhack’s neck is not the most important thing. Nonetheless, it is to me. The prayer or quotation that is written in the necklace, has been very important to me. Throughout a long time it has helped me and my family. It is known to be the prayer for the addicts. In AA (alcoholic Anonymous), the quote is prayed in the beginning and sometimes end of every session.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference.” (pg.209)

I can read this citation over and over again, and every time I read, it has an effect in me. Every line has a very strong meaning. I wonder why Vonnegut chose this phrase to be mentioned twice in his novel. (pg. 60 and 209) I guess that it helped him to overcome the post war shock as well, they way it helped me. In terms of war, having the serenity to accept that he cannot change might make him admit that he alone cannot change the conflicts and actions that some nations make. Redundantly Slaughterhouse-Five is an anti-war book, therefore he is somehow fighting war (having the courage to accept the things he can) by writing this book, but recognizing that even though it is pathetic, it still fought, and he fought it. When Vonnegut mocks war with pieces of satire and science fiction he has the wisdom to tell the difference.

As in what the book leaves to me, a very different view of what a war book might be (or in this case and anti-war). Vonnegut transmits his thoughts of war very clearly, the way he talks about it and the tone and attitude that he attributes to his accounts, not only makes me get a different perspective of the bombing in Dresden and war itself but enjoy the book.