CHAPTER FIVE- SITUATIONAL IRONY

Chapter Five is full of situational irony. Billy is watching a production of Cinderella by the British prisoners when his laughs turn into "shrieks". The Germans move him into a prisoner's hospital where he is chained to a hospital bed and drugged with morphine. It was believed they did this because they wanted him well enough to work when they move him to a Dresden labor camp. The situational irony comes in play through the character of Edgar Derby. Derby was considered by many too old to be fighting in the war. However, he found a way to fight. Anyway, Edgar Derby accompanies Billy Pilgrim while he is placed in this prisoner's hospital. It is situationally ironic to Billy because he can never forget seeing the way Edgar will die. Edgar Derby was to be put in front of a firing squad and shot to death. Billy never could tell Edgar this though. This is ironic because Billy was always tormented  by trying to find a way to tell Derby, but he couldn't. He wanted to help Derby, but he knew there was no way. Like the Tralfamadorians told Billy, the future was going to happen no matter what. Derby remained at his side, fighting with Billy the whole time. "'How nice- to feel nothing, and still get the full credit of being alive.' Derby now came to lugubrious attention" (p 105).