The Breakfast of Champions: The Plague of Misery"The nation's motto by Dwayne Hoover and Kilgore Trout E pluribus unum, Out of Many One" (9) . Among many characters the narrator chooses one, Kilgore Trout, to achieve success. He and Dwayne Hoover are the main characters in the novel Breakfast of Champions (1973) by Kurt Vonnegut. This book is a microcosm of modern American society. Each character symbolizes a different part of society. The main characters, Dwayne and Kilgore, are symbols; Dwayne represents the family man and successful businessman, and Kilgore represents the lonely and unsuccessful people of the world. This novel reveals the misconception people have about the relationship between being rich, being successful, and being happy. “We never discussed what kind of funeral you wanted,” Kilgore Trout told his pet parakeet and only friend. Kilgore was born in Bermuda. When he was young, he worked with his father trying to save the endangered Bermuda Erns. When an Ern died, Kilgore had the gruesome task of measuring the dead bird's wingspan. He seemed doomed from childhood. “The pessimism that overwhelmed him in old age most likely had its roots in Erns's decaying bittersweet mulch” (31). This pessimism destroys every human relationship Kilgore Trout has. Because of this, Kilgore is a lonely middle-aged man who expects nothing more from his life than to die alone. The only way he expresses himself outwardly is through writing science fiction novels and short stories. A man became interested in Kilgore's writing. His name is Mr. Rosewater, a very rich man who earned his wealth by running coal mines in the mountains of West Virginia. In his eyes Kilgore Trout is a genius. Rosewater funds an extensive search to find Kilgore's address. Once he has the address, he sends Kilgore a fan letter. Kilgore perceives this letter as an invasion of his privacy. Rosewater insists he won't interfere and promises to make Kilgore famous. Trout says, “Stay away from my body bag” (33). Rosewater uses his influences to invite Kilgore to an art show in Midland City. At this art festival, Kilgore will be one of the keynote speakers. Kilgore, having no intention of going at first, says, "I won't go. I don't want to get out of my cage" (36). The same pessimism that leads him to live a lonely and dissatisfied life is also the reason why he decides to go to the art festival..