2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut

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About this eBook

Author Vonnegut, Kurt, 1922-2007
Title 2 B R 0 2 B
Series Title Produced from Worlds of If, January 1962.
Credits Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Geetu Melwani and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Summary "2 B R 0 2 B" by Kurt Vonnegut is a short story that originally appeared in the magazine "Worlds of If" in the early 1960s. This satirical piece explores themes of population control and the moral implications of voluntary death in a future society where aging and diseases have been conquered, and the population is deliberately capped at forty million to ensure quality of life. The narrative reflects the absurdities and moral dilemmas faced by individuals in a world with strict population management. The story revolves around Edward K. Wehling Jr., who is anxiously waiting for his wife to give birth to triplets in a hospital that doubles as a setting for a shocking societal norm: for every new life, another must willingly end. As Wehling grapples with the heart-wrenching decision of which of his children will live, he is confronted by various characters that symbolize the darker, utilitarian aspects of this engineered world. These include Dr. Hitz, who promotes the concept of population control, and Leora Duncan, a termination facilitator. Ultimately, faced with the impossible choice and the grim reality of the situation, Wehling makes a tragic decision that underscores the story's critique of society's cold rationalism surrounding life and death. In a final moment of despair, the painter observes the events unfold and decides to end his own life by calling the "Federal Bureau of Termination," highlighting the pervasive theme of hopelessness in such a dystopian existence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Category Text
EBook-No. 21279
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 2, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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