Kurt Vonnegut Views on the Seasons

Why did he Believed there are Six Seasons Instead of the Traditional Four?

Kurt Vonnegut On the Seasons. Vonnegut was an American writer and humorist, a war hero, known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels.

He has published over thirteen novels, five nonfiction works, five plays, and three short-story collections, in a career spanning over 50 years.

In his book, If this isn’t nice, what is? Vonnegut expressed a unique perspective on the seasons; stating that there are six seasons instead of the traditional four.

In addition to spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Vonnegut included two more seasons, which he called, “Locking” and “Unlocking.”

Hey, why settle for four when you can spice it up with a couple of transitions, right?

According to Vonnegut, these transitional periods of “locking” and “unlocking” are the times when transformation actually happens.

A change when nature is either awakening or going dormant.

When Vonnegut talks about “Locking,” he’s essentially saying, “Hold on, folks, nature is about to hibernate.”

It’s that moment when everything gets cozy like a blanket settling over the world. The trees are tucking in their leaves, animals are finding their comfortable corners, and winter is gearing up for its grand entrance.

On the flip side, you’ve got “Unlocking.”

According to Vonnegut, this is the season when nature stretches and yawns, rubbing its eyes as it wakes up from its wintry nap.

Flowers start peeking out. Animals start their lively chatter, and suddenly, the world is buzzing with new life.

It’s like nature’s way of saying, “Okay, winter, you had your turn; now, let’s bring on the sunshine!”

Vonnegut noticed that spring doesn’t feel like Spring a lot of the time.

And November is all wrong for Fall!

He laid it out this way:

• Spring is May and June.
• Summer is July and August.
• Autumn is September and October.

Next comes the season he called, “locking.”

That is when nature shuts everything down. Writes Vonnegut.

• November and December aren’t Winter. he called these months, “locking seasons.“
• The real winter, as he puts it, starts in January and February.

What comes next?

Not Spring.

• Unlocking comes next.

Vonnegut said, “What else could April be?

“It’s like the seasons are doing a little dance,” he remarked, “taking a moment to either get all cozy or shake things up a bit.”

Now why did Vonnegut add these extra seasons?

Maybe he thought, “Why settle for a simple four-course meal when you can throw in a couple of appetizers and desserts?” In his quirky world, these transitional moments aren’t just weather shifts; they’re nature’s way of doing a little cha-cha between the more predictable acts of spring, summer, fall, and winter.

So, next time you feel a chill in the air or catch a whiff of blooming flowers, remember Kurt Vonnegut’s extra seasons, where nature isn’t just following a script – it’s adding a couple of improv acts to keep us all on our toes.

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Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you in the next one.

Have a blessed day