CHAPTER 9:
Vonnegut uses symbolism to express many ideas in his novel. On page 208 he uses the passage: "There was a silver chain around Montana Wildhack's neck. Hanging from it, between her breasts, was a locket containing a photograph of her alcoholic mother––a grainy thing, soot and chalk. It could have been anybody. Engraved on the outside of the locket were these words: God grant me the serenity to change the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference" to convey a deeper meaning. Wildhack's childhood was obviously tragic because of her alcoholic mother. However, the words inside the locket are parallel to the meaning behind Vonnegut's refrain "so it goes".
As I said earlier in a blog, "so it goes" is a phrase Vonnegut uses after something tragic has happened. It means that humans can do nothing to control the events around them and that they should not spend time mourning those events. The words inside Wildhack's locket symbolize that one needs to accept the that some things are outside of your control while finding the strength to control the things you can. For the things you cannot control though, don't dwell on them, instead focus on the positives in life. Wildhack couldn't control her mother's drinking problem. However, instead of hating her mother, she chooses to have her mother serve as a reminder of the words written on the inside of her locket.
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