https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5 a dystopian short story by Kurt Vonnegut en-us 2018-03-25 15:54:00 UTC 2025-11-27 16:57:06 UTC hello@padlet.com elisaretana https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245842293 is a short story by Kurt Vonnegut originally written in 1953. It was first published in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine in January 1954, where the story was titled "The Big Trip Up Yonder", which is the protagonist's euphemism for dying.]]> 2018-03-25 16:00:37 UTC https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245842293 elisaretana https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245842756 of the short story people’s living conditions in 2158 are illustrated. Summarize them referring to housing, environment, and population growth.


The story is set in 2158. Despite science having advanced enormously, surmounted all imaginable limits and eradicated all diseases around the world, the described scenery is quite depressing. The invention of a drug called anti-gerasone prevents people from aging and enables everyone to live indefinitely. As a consequence of this, there is a severe overpopulation reaching 12 billion of people. The world has run out of raw materials and there is a huge shortage of food. Only wealthy people can eat "real food" and most survive from processed seaweed and sawdust. The countryside has almost disappeared and cities occupy all the surface of the planet. There is a great scarcity of dwelling and huge families made up of more than 20 members have to share a flat, usually owned by the oldest relative, in stark conditions. Moreover, there are a great deal of retired people, thus taxes have soared in order to afford pensions.



]]> 2018-03-25 16:03:44 UTC https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245842756 elisaretana https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245843085 Have you found it funny? The story has been described as being darkly humorous, would you agree? If so, what would you say is the source of comicity in it?

To my mind, the comicity of the story lies in the way the author explain us every scenary, leading us to imagine a ridiculous and grotesque situation.  Always it results comic to take ordinary things to extremes. I mean all the generations of the family are living together, not placing truth among them but fighting for the best position in the apartment and in the oldest member's will. Then the way is described the will sheet, again an again modified depending on the favour that every member obteins from the older one called Cramps. Also imagining an old man aged one hundred and seventy two running the five-hundred-mile Speedway Race. Another point of comicity, all the Cramps's parentage prefer to stay at jail so that not to have to share their own room and to turn beds. The story is a continuous resource of humour if you imagine the whole situation.]]> 2018-03-25 16:05:49 UTC https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245843085 elisaretana https://padlet.com/elisaretana/1j92u4o812a5/wish/245844140 Can you think of other unintended consequences future generations may have to face as a consequence of extending life expectancy?


Longevity would allow people to contribute more to the world with their talent and wisdom. Enjoying a longer life, scientists could discover and invent more, scholars could write more and artists could compose more. Overall, mankind would make the most of learned people and leading figures.
On the other hand, the elderly need to use more the NHS, so an increment in that usage would have an impact on the global healthcare expenditure.

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