For the Boys: Masculinity, Gray Comedy, and the Vietnam War in “Slaughterhouse-Five”

Abstract

The article focuses on the use of masculinity and dark humor in the book "Slaughterhouse-Five," by Kurt Vonnegut. The author explores how Vonnegut was able to use black humor in a way that was optimistic, calling this "gray humor." The book's depiction of World War II and the bombing of Dresden, Germany is examined. The author discusses how the Vietnam War impacted the book's reception and examines how the book attempts to portray the dehumanizing effects of war, especially on boys. (English)