Why does billy pilim become unstuck in time?

Answer 1

It is Vonnegut's way of dealing with the catastrophe of the fire-bombing of Dresden. It was a massacre, which he cannot formally explain, so his character, Pilgrim, becomes "unstuck in time" because he makes up a world (Tralfamadore) to deal with his condition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He becomes unstuck in time because he learns of the Tralfamadorian concept of time; a four dimensional outlook, where they are never living in the moment, but in the past, present and future. Billy knows the playout of his life before he even dies, i.e. (knows of Lazarro's assassination order which is in the future) Billy is uncontrollably time-traveling through his life where he relives experiences, in which he has no control of. Science Fiction at its best.

Answer 2

Billy Pilgrim becomes "unstuck in time" due to experiencing time travel as a result of his experiences in World War II and being abducted by Tralfamadorians, an alien race. This unique narrative technique in Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" reflects Billy's post-traumatic stress disorder and his struggle to cope with the horrors he witnessed in the war.