Free will is one of the most basic aspects of humanity that we take for granted. Just because we are told to do something doesn't mean we have to. In chapter two, it seems like Billy doesn't have free will. When he was a little kid, his father tossed him into a pool in order for Billy to learn to swim. Billy preferred to stay at the bottom of the pool, but he was rescued instead. Another example is during WWII, where he joined a unit comprised of two scouts, Roland Weary, and himself. Billy is a joke of a soldier, he is not armed, does not have any military-issued clothing, nor was he trained to handle war. Overcome with dismay and suffering, Billy tells his squad to leave him behind. Weary instead forces him to carry on with them. With these two examples, one must ask: does free will even exist, or is it just wishful thinking?
Personally, it can seem like free will doesn't exist. Authority figures such as teachers, parents, and bosses seem to make my decisions for me, without letting me make my own choices. So I can sympathize with Billy Pilgrim in this chapter.
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