Chapter four: free will

In this chapter the reader is introduced to the Tralfamadorian idea of free will.  They do not know of such a concept; "I've visited thirty-one inhabited planets in the universe, and I have studies reports on one hundred more.  Only on Earth is there any talk of free will."  The fact that only Earthling have the idea of free will suggests that people have no control on their fate.  It is the reason that the aliens scoff at Billy's questions that ask why he was chosen by the aliens.  The fate of each person has been decided and the aliens are at peace with that.  The people on Earth are still under the illusion that they can change their lives for the better.  I think that Billy is beginning to realize that and has begun to give up on his life.  Earlier in the novel, Billy chose to sink rather than swim, and he had always wanted to give up in war.  Both of those lead me to believe that he has given up on himself and those around him.