In Search For Irony In Revenge

I remember from class that a great amount of this book is ironical. Some of it can't be taken seriously because it would make the book loose its true meaning. Starting with the story about who was supposedly writing this book and why. In the first chapter the author of this book claims that he wrote a war book and a funny book. This is a combination of both since it is taking us to the bombing of Dresden but from a creative point of view, a soldier that can travel in time. Of all the ironical statements that are in the book one was worth discussing. It wasn't as obvious as "Everybody gets a little something from war" (p.40) but it has a meaning which took me some time to understand completely. This is the statement: 'Anybody ever asks you what the sweetest thing in life is-' said Lazzaro, 'it's revenge.' (p.49)

Without the context of the book this statement might be taken literally since revenge can have its bright side. When this is said Lazzaro is talking to Billy Pilgrim. Lazzaro has sworn to kill Billy in revenge for the death of Roland Weary. The Ironical part here is soon after this conversation, Billy is transported to the future and experiences the moments previous to his death (which was triggered by Lazzaro who killed him in order to fulfill his promise). This is an example of one of the messages the author wants to make sure we get from this book. Revenge might be good especially for he who is giving it to others, but it can't be "the sweetest thing in life" because it ultimately will bring death and suffering.

Lazzaro was a person who lived for revenge and tried to give it to give to as many people as he could, for any reason he found fit. I doubt Billy was truly involved in Roland Weary's death because he was in a different car and because Billy was able to extend Roland's life a little. If Billy would have continued with the other two "musketeers" all of them would have been killed by the Germans. Lazzaro is person who is blinded by hate and goes after Billy many years later when he is finally an important person capable of inspiring millions and change the way people looked at things. This is why revenge will never bring justice. If there is no justice there is no peace and without peace there is war. War is death and because of this revenge can only be the most horrible thing in life.