Because the novel was written in 1959 and is post World War II, it is evident that novel is considered a postmodern novel. The Sirens of Titan is an obvious satire when discussing religion. Vonnegut criticizes and pokes fun at religion and God in the novel. First I will explain how he does this, and then I will touch on why he might do this.
How:
1) The first example that criticizes religion is the explanation of the Constant fortune. Malachi Constant's father Noel Constant had a system for obtaining his fortune. One day, Noel sat in a hotel room and pulled a bible out from the drawer. Noel divided the sentences into pairs of letters (I.N., T.H., E.B., E.G., I.N., N.I., N.G....) and then he would invest in companies that had these initials. Noel soon got lucky and made billions of dollars off of the companies he invested in. This is how the Constant fortune began and how Malachi became the wealthiest man in America in the 22nd century. The use of the bible as a source of luck to achieve economic fortune is a sacrilegious act. The bible main purpose is to give praise to God. Noel is not religious, never prays, and does not mention God once (1). For centuries the bible has been praised, studied, examined, and more. It is an object that demands great respect from its followers and is to be treated with integrity. The idea that an object that is the center of a religion can be seen as a good luck charm used to make a fortune is sacrilegious.
2) The second example is when Winston Niles Rumfoord manipulates the world and installs the religion known as The Church of God the Utterly Indifferent. The main beliefs of this religion are that man can do nothing to please God and God does not control the luck of the people. Rumfoord then creates his own bible that displaces the original Bible (2). The religion is adopted world wide because the humans have nothing left to believe in. They believe that after the great war between Mars, God has led them astray. They are also tired of seeing the divide between the rich in the poor. As a result, they all work together uniformly to make sure everyone is equal and no one is better than anyone else. They also are forbidden to thank God for anything because they no longer believe that God plays a part in commanding their luck. Society no longer recognizes that God cares about them and they believe he is entirely apathetic towards humans. This universal accepted religion discredits the religious belief that God is all mighty, powerful, and commands recognition.
Why: In the postmodern/post-WWII society Christian beliefs were challenged. After the discovery of the concentration camps went public and the dropping of the atomic bombs were witnessed, many began to question how God could let millions of innocent people die. Additionally, the beginning of the age of consumerism began. Many of changes made to society in the aftermath of the war were against Christian beliefs. Together, the realization of mass murder and the changes in society contributed to the spread of atheism. Poets like Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes, and Stevie Smith wrote about atheism and the irrelevance of religion in modern life (3). Because Vonnegut was once trapped as a prisoner of war in a concentration camp he witnessed the death of thousands first hand. Throughout his life Vonnegut also dealt with the death of close friends and family. After witnessing the death of innocent people it is practical that one might question their faith in God.
The Sirens of Titan gives the impression that when humans are lost and have nothing left to believe in anymore, they turn to the best option offered at the time. This is how Winston Niles Rumfoord gained control of the Earth. It also reveals man's need to believe in something/someone and follow a source of authority. If man does not have a guideline or religion to follow, they begin to feel helpless and purposeless. In the postmodern era, humans not only questioned their religion, but their purpose too.
Refer to Bibliography:
(1) The Sirens of Titan, 76
(2) The Sirens of Titan, 183-184
(3) Lauren Capaccio.
When you think about it, postmodernism is still very relevant today. Many people, including myself, continue to question religion and its relation to modern day life. With the advances in science and technology and the horror going on the world, sometimes you really stop and wonder if there is a God up there. I wonder if other religions such as buddhism became very popular during the postmodern time period.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/types/postmodernism.shtml
ReplyDeleteAccording to this article on BBC, it appears that people maintain their belief in God in a postmodern world, they just look for different ways to connect with him and interact with him. They challenge traditional religious activities and create their own spiritual world. Buddhism and Shintoism have become more popular in the postmodern world.