University of Virginia Library

Psychiatric Visit

After "Slaughterhouse Five," Vonnegut
suffered from the "big click," and was
unproductive for several years. He told of
visiting a psychiatrist and complaining of
depression over the state of the world.
The psychiatrist recommended that he
stopped drinking, and "I discovered I was
the biggest hypocrite in the world."

But this statement was more a lectorial
liberty than an actuality. A few
comments in his lecture and a great many
of the ideas offered during his subsequent
seminar and interview revealed that Mr.
Vonnegut is far from a hypocrite. He
considers himself an artist; and, as he
said, "The arts should serve society."