Fragmented Life: "Death of the Subject" in Slaughterhouse-Five

Abstract

Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-Five is a quintessential American postmodernist novel. Based on Fredric Jamesons postmodern cultural theories, the text will analyze the characteristic of death of the subject. With the development of capitalism, the religion gradually lost its absolute voice in society and was replaced by extreme individualism. However, after the devastation of the two world wars, people finally realized the dangers of individualism, and the status of the subject went into extinction. In the late capitalist society, Billy Pilgrim, the main character, was hard to gain a sense of belonging from the heroism and wealth, and gradually lost the subjectivity captured from the religion. Facing the crisis of death of the subject, Billy had tried to save himself by pastiche, but he failed in the end. By telling Billys personal experience, the novel not only amply demonstrates the spiritual dilemmas prevalent in post-war society but also expresses profound humanistic concern.