Vonnegut essay questions

Overpopulation is an issue that Vonnegut treats differently in many of his short stories. In "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," we learn that the government has raised taxes for the purpose of funding defense and old-age pensions.

It is often linked to those of government control and suppression of individuality, since the government often uses technology to suppress the individuality of its citizens. In "Welcome to the Monkey House," for example, "practically everything was the Government. Practically everything was automated, too" (34).

Vonnegut's short stories support the idea that individuality cannot be suppressed without disastrous consequences. In "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," a television announcer asks, "Wouldn't you pay $5,000 to be indistinguishable from everyone else?" (330). It is a rhetorical question.

Describe how Vonnegut uses technology metaphors and similes in his descriptions of certain characters. Vonnegut often employs technology in his figurative language to call into question the relationship between humans and machines.