Slaughterhouse Five and Hamlet

The Meaning is Near not Here Comparing a novel to a play can be sometimes challenging. When comparing two characters, it is harder to see the similarities than the differences. Hamlet and Billy Pilgrim are two different characters, from two different centuries, from two different countries, from two different worlds, and yet their search for the meaning of life was astonishingly similar. The search for the meaning of life becomes quite difficult for Hamlet and Billy Pilgrim. They both experience horrific adventures in their lives along with insanity which their personalities attract. The delirium that takes place throughout their adventures continuously brings them one step closer to finding the true meaning of life. From the very beginning, the Play shows that Hamlet is not living the life that everyone would expect a prince to live. His father is dead and his uncle conquered Hamlet’s throne, while declaring Gertrude as his property. Also Hamlet and his love Ophelia are told they cannot be together, which truly initiates the Play. Hamlet doesn’t understand why his life turned out this way. He is often confused and doesn’t know why his life seems to be ‘stuck’ in this horrific cycle of unfortunate events, or if there is more to his life, or a greater purpose. “To be or not to Ibrahim 2 be, that is the question” (3.1.57) . This is indeed the question! Is his life meant to go onto the path of suicide? Does existence offer happiness or is death a more enticing option? After speaking with the ghost that is his father’s spirit; he begins to slowly understand that he does have a purpose. That realization is completely defined by the killing of Claudius. As Hamlet pretends to be insane, it helps him see more clearly how people act around him. It also allowed Hamlet to verify Claudius’s love for him as non genuine. Hamlet fakes being ill-minded to enable him to revenge his father’s death. A genius defence would be his obvious insanity. However,

Cited: VONNEGUT,KURT. Slaughterhouse five. New York, New York: Dell Publishing, 1969. A Division of Random House Inc.