Long Walk to Forever by Kurt Vonnegut

Analysis

Newt and Catharine had grown up next door to each other. There had always been
playful, comfortable warmth between them, but never any talk of love. Now, Newt is in
the army and Catharine is back home, about to marry Henry Stewart Chasens. Word of
the impending wedding galvanizes Newt into action. Realizing that he loves Catharine,
Newt goes AWOL from the army and hitchhikes home to see her. Meanwhile, Catharine
makes final preparations for the marriage—secure in her love for Henry Stewart
Chasens—and anxiously awaits the sensible and comfortable life to follow. When Newt
arrives back home, he convinces Catharine to take a walk in the nearby woods, as they
used to do when children. Deep in these woods Newt and Catharine must resolve
whether this is a short walk for old-times' sake or a Long Walk to Forever. Clearly, this is
one of Mr. Vonnegut's most lyrical stories, a subtle and cautionary tale examining his
familiar theme of personal values versus social mores.
It seems that this story was written to entertain; there is little informative quality.  It
seems to be a commentary on the notion of “true love” or “soul mates,” which in this
Vonnegut ends up endorsing.  He makes this very clear through the context of the story,
which is in itself a classic: forbidden love.  It is completely inappropriate for Catherine to
run off with another man a week away from her marriage, thus the forbidden quality of
Catherine and Newt’s love.  However, the ending suggests that they do end up doing
this, that “true love” ends up being more powerful than what seems fair or just.