Why does Weary try to beat Billy?

Answer 1

Weary attempts to beat Billy because he is frustrated and angry at the situation they find themselves in during the war. He sees Billy as weak and believes that asserting dominance over him will bolster his own sense of control in an otherwise chaotic environment. This aggression also reflects Weary's own insecurities and his need to cope with the trauma of war by projecting his anger onto someone he perceives as vulnerable. Ultimately, it highlights the themes of power dynamics and the psychological toll of conflict in Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five."