"Billy looked up at the face that went with the clogs. It was the face of a blond angel, of a fifteen-year-old boy. The boy was as beautiful as Eve"(53)
Kurt Vonnegut makes many biblical references throughout the book, but this one is probably the most odd. Billy describes the boy as Eve, the female counterpart of Adam. This comment has significance, as to note a boy in terms of female beauty indicates innocence and purity. WWII affected everyone, and required that even the youngest go through events no adult should experience. Billy notes his purity, as the war had yet to change both his appearance and innocence. The boy is also compared to an angel. I found it odd that Billy calls his enemy an angel. Why do you think that the boy was compared to both an angel and Eve?
Well said, Aidan. Very well said. But this raises the question, well, I should say questions, that refer to the story of Adam and Eve. Firstly, who would Adam be if Billy is Eve? I don't quite know myself, but I'm wondering if it could possibly be seen as the Tralfamadorians. They saw how everything was, and is, supposed to play out, based on their ability to see in the fourth dimension. But that brings me to my next question; If Billy is Eve, what was the sin he caused? What was the ultimate sin? If you have any thoughts let me know. I'm really quite curious.
ReplyDeleteEr... Sorry, not if Billy is Eve, if the boy is Eve. I wasn't paying attention while I typed.
DeleteTo answer your first question, I don't think that we yet know who Adam may be. Perhaps the boy being compared to Eve was simply a way of describing him, and not leading the reader to think that there is an Adam. On the second question, I think the sin has yet to be commited. In the story of Adam and Eve they are innoncent and ignorant. I think that the boy is similar to the pair, as they don't fully understand what they are doing.
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