Vonnegut-Response to Question 3-Three Musketeer Bar?

Vonnegut has an exceptionally unique writing style throughout Slaughter House- Five. One aspect of his writing style and the effect he has on the readers is the way he mentions random details could easily go unnoticed, but, many times instead it will make the reader inquisitive. An example of this is on page 12, where Vonnegut notes the woman reporter eating a Three Musketeer Bar while talking about the death man that squashed by the car and elevator. After Vonnegut gives her the report it says that the woman reporter ask, “Did it bother you?” after he gives her details of what the squashed guy looked like. At the same time all this is she is also eating a Three Musketeer Bar. I have more than one opinion of why Vonnegut chose to mention the same woman was also eating the Three Musketeer Bar. I am not stating they are precisely the intention Vonnegut had, but is possible ways in which a reader could have interpreted the additional detail.

Previously, on page 11, Vonnegut describes how tough the reporters were that had taken the jobs of men that went to war. He also describes the women writer he spoke to as "beastly". Having this description before she asks the question suggests that the war made the writers tougher by experiencing harsher situations. Further, when Vonnegut notes she is casually eating a candy bar while discussing someone’s tragic death demonstrates her lack of concern and how the misfortune does not seem to have any distress on her at all. The fact that she asks the question, “Did it bother you?” shows how she is oblivious to the reality of devastation and disgust Vonnegut had already witnessed in the war and Dresden. I believe Vonnegut added the comment about her eating her Three Musketeer Bar in there to also show that commonly people could care less and not be bothered with death unless it directly influences their life. She is able to sit there and eat her chocolate while others, like Vonnegut are in the world experiencing death with his own eyes and memories. Death has a greater impression on those who have personally witnessed it.