Epicac

Vonnegut writes “EPICAC” as a satire, which is the literary device allowing the story to be both humorous and serious at the same time. Many of the satirical elements in the story are focused on the human inability to believe there is a force we cannot control. EPICAC is a force that its (his) makers cannot fully comprehend or control despite their being the ones in control of its (his) making. The story’s human characters all seem to believe that every problem is solvable. The Brass believe they can solve all of their military problems with the right computer. The Narrator believes he can solve his problem (Pat not loving him) with the “right words.” Pat also believes her problem (not finding a man romantic enough) can be solved if she waits until the proper suiter presents himself. Ironically, though, EPICAC is the only character who admits his destiny, his fate is the only problem he cannot solve, which is simultaneously humorous and tragic because neither he, nor any human can solve the “problem” of fate (though the story seems to believe “fate” is more malleable than the dictionary may have us believe).