Kurt Vonnegut faced numerous struggles that influenced his writing themes, such as war and trauma. He was a prisoner of war during the bombing of Dresden in World War II, an experience that deeply impacted his worldview and writings. Vonnegut grappled with existentialism, humanism, and the absurdity of life, often reflecting these themes in works like "Slaughterhouse-Five." His personal experiences with grief, loss, and mental health struggles also contributed to his distinctive blend of satire and seriousness, focusing on the fragility of the human condition.