1. With regard to James Wait's charity toward the Kanka-bono girls, Vonnegut briefly ponders the validity of kindnesses that are easy to perform. This turned my thoughts toward some once fiscally liberal celebrities, Dennis Miller for instance, who became less charitable after having accrued considerable wealth. Do you believe that great fortune allows us to become more altruistic or are we likelier to succumb to greed? How do you sincerely imagine you might behave, were you to acquire a great sum of money tomorrow?
2. Do you attribute the murder of Prince Richard of Croatia-Slavonia entirely to Wait's absent-mindedness?
3. How might Siegfried von Kleist have been acquainted with Leon Trout, our recently unveiled narrator?
"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," and in this country, money is power. I think people who come into a large sum of money are more susceptible to greediness, for once one gets a taste of having everything his or her way, I can imagine it being difficult to step back from that. While I did not watch the program, there was a reality show called "Manor House" in which a group of people were given different roles to play in a recreation of an early 20th century British manor. One family played the wealthy aristocrats, while others had to serve as kitchen maids and what not. Well of course the turn over rate was high for those assigned in lower classes, but what was unnerving was how comfortable the "wealthy" family became with acting superior to the others. These were ordinary people, but this situation gave them the opportunity to feel powerful and special, and they soon abandoned any guilt or uneasiness. Of course I'd like to think that I would maintain my values if I acquired a great sum of money or power, but there's unfortunately no way of knowing.... unless anyone wants to hand over some cash right now... I'm willing to experiment ;)
ReplyDelete1) I agree with Kaya entirely. Wealth allows for people to be more charitable, but it simultaneously presents the opportunity to spend greedily. It is easy to blind yourself from unfortunate situations no matter how much money you have. I sincerely believe I would use much of my money altruistically. I am not a very materialistic person, and there are significant causes I care about deeply. Although I believe I would act this way, I don't think I would be wholly immune to the corruption wealth can bring. With the vast market of things we can buy today, I probably would not be able to always resist purchasing semi-ridiculous items (like a jet pack, for instance...).
ReplyDelete2) No, I think Wait's absent-mindedness roots much deeper and stems from his unfortunate past.
3) I must say, I am so happy our narrator is a Trout :). I suppose they are connected by the Bahia de Darwin, especially when it was in production.
1. Yes money changes everything, even if you earn your money as soon as you have a plathera money life changes. You start to buy more expensive cloths and food wasting money on things you never tougher you could see yourself wasting money on.
ReplyDelete& yes, if I was to acquire a huge sum of money, I would buy a house and lots of food I can't help but admit that money would change me a little.
ReplyDelete2. No, I think his absentminded ness comes from thinking to much. I think he is so focused on his thoughts he seems to not be here.
ReplyDelete3. I don't exactly know how they were aquainted but I must guess they each other from years prior
ReplyDeleteyes, large amounts of money definitely change a person and cause them to become more interested in themselves and no other issues that ,may be involved in the world around them. Granted, this is not always the case, but generally it is.
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