2 B R 0 2 B

2 B R 0 2 B is a science fiction short story by Kurt Vonnegut, originally published in the digest magazine Worlds of If Science Fiction for January 1962, and collected in Vonnegut's Bagombo Snuff Box. The title is pronounced "e;2 B R naught 2 B"e; and references the famous phrase "e;to be, or not to be"e; from William Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the story, the title refers to the telephone number that one dials to schedule an assisted suicide with the Federal Bureau of Termination. The main character in the story "e;2BR02B"e; by Kurt Vonnegut is Edward K. Wehling Jr. The intrigue revolves around his moral dilemma and inner conflict. The painter also plays an important role in the story, and his ironic outlook appears to be shared by the narrator.