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Player Piano

by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Essay by David H. Kessel



Player Piano, Vonnegut's first novel, was published in 1954...at the beginning of America's technological "explosion"...the socalled "second industrial revolution" (i.e. cybernetics...or...the age of computers and technological automation). It's story is set in an unspecified "nearfuture" and takes place in Ilium, NY. The United States has won ideological control of the world by then...largely through winning a third world war and by creating EPICAC XIV, a massive computer which centrally plans all production of goods...as well as...social organization. This is coordinated by the "National Industrial, Commercial, Communications, Foodstuffs, and Resources Board (i.e. shortened to the National Industria1 Planning Board). There's still a President of the United States, but this position is clearly secondary to the Director of this Board. In short, America and its people are a machine...cogs in it...and meaningful work/employment is scarce...despite a prosperous standard of living measured in terms of "having things." The mass of people do little work and have little to do with "manning" the machines. This is done by a small intellectual and managerial elite. The masses and elite are separated physically, too. Most elite live near the "Works" and in Ilium, the masses live across a river in prefabricated housing called Homestead. The masses do practically nothing, are bored, and are limited to 1) the unarmed Army; 2) the Reconstruction and Reclamation Corps' and 3) various selfemployment positions (esp. repair shops).

There are two major plots in Player Piano. The first (and primary one) centers around Paul Proteus...the manager of the Ilium Works. Paul's past (his father was the 1st Director of the National Board), his wife...Anita, and his mentor and supervisor...Dr. Anthony Kroner, make him a very prominent man. However, Paul is vaguely dissatisfied with his life and the "system." Through a progression of events and associations, Paul eventually joins and lends his name to a rebellion (known as the Ghost Shirt Society) against the machinesystem. Predictably, it fails and Paul (and the other leaders) pay the ultimate price in the face of the robot helicopters.

The secondary plot involves an "outside perspective" on the American system...through an official visit to the United States by the Shah of Bratpuhr...a despotic ruler who observes that despite immense differences between the U.S. and his country...both populations are "slaves" and neither are any more happy than the other (despite the prosperity of the Americans).

Quite clearly, Vonnegut was critical about the dominance of technology over human existence. Yet, it would be a mistake to assume or conclude that he was antitechnology. Likewise, it would be an error to surmise that the author felt technology itself was the "problem." Rather, it is human nature that Vonnegut is questioning...specifically that part of it which propels humans to "control" (and "solve") all around them...including each other. Thus, it is probably accurate to say that the conclusion of the novel is ambiguous, at best. He critiques technological automation, but he also upholds its benefits...believing that they must be in proportion to human realities and interests. His is a nostalgic view...not for a nontechnological society, but for a lesstechnological one. The actual player piano in a bar in Homestead is a symbol of this nostalgia.

While on the surface, this story seems to be about nonconformity, Vonnegut is more deeply concerned about a certain kind of conformity. Given the time of its writing in the early 1950's, Player Piano is more prophetic than predictive or prescriptive. (i.e. laying out a blueprint for the "good" society). Vonnegut gives no "answers," but does, in our day, give us reason to look back at the 40+ years since its writing and our experiences during that time...especially the relationship between conformity, deviance, and control.