Fate Vs. Free Will

One of the major themes of the novel is the argument between fate and free will. The novel argues strongly in the side of destiny. The aliens of Tralfamadore said that the "moment simply is... here we are... trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why." Destiny leads people to the present location without reason or explanation. This is the struggle of Billy Pilgrim. He is going on the journey of his life over and over again to maybe see or relearn something of importance from his past, present, and future. He cannot change his situation, so he must learn how to deal with the hand he is dealt by destiny. Vonnegut is illustrating this idea of destiny with these visions of Billy's flashes through time.