Welcome to the Monkey House

Content Warning: The story discusses suicide and contains depictions of rape and group violence against a single person.

The world in Vonnegut’s “Welcome to the Monkey House” addresses topics including personal freedom, government control, and the purpose of humanity. The author paints a satirically extreme version of a society he was familiar with in the 1960s—with limited rights regarding reproductive autonomy and heavy religious undertones in government and lawmaking. The story’s view on birth control and sexual freedom speak to feminist issues of bodily autonomy, though the overt feminism in Vonnegut’s story is counterbalanced by its depiction of assault and female objectification framed in a controversially positive lens. These complex issues are handled with satire and dark humor and are intentionally provocative, intended to produce a strong emotional response in the reader and inspire more critical thinking about the central issues the story explores.

The issue of quality of life Personal Freedom and Autonomy is addressed throughout the story, primarily through the character of Nancy. At the beginning of the story, during Nancy’s early interactions with the Foxy Grandpa/Billy, her mask slips, and she reveals her irritation with her job and the boredom she feels.