So It Goes...

Vonnegut uses the repetition of the phrase "so it goes" after any death in the story. This represents the idea of the inevitability of death. This demonstrates Billy Pilgrim's "acceptance of fate" mentality. When being shot at, Billy will stand in harms way in order to give the gunman a second chance because he is growing tired of war. Billy accepts death as just another part of life that he is unable to change. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes to the reader that acceptance of fate is one of the major themes found in the novel. Throughout the novel, the phrase "so it goes" is used one hundred and sixteen times. The phrase has also become so well known that it is the most frequently seen literary tattoo.