Vonnegut Social Commentary in Cats Cradle

Social Commentary in Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle

Kurt Vonnegut’s science fiction novel, Cat’s Cradle, is chocked full of social commentary, satirical humor, and an overall pessimistic view on American Society. Through the fictional religion Bokononism Vonnegut introduces us to John, a young man who is writing a book about the day the atomic bomb was dropped. His research led him to the late Dr. Felix Hoenikker, a brilliant scientist who was deemed the “father of the atomic bomb.” Anxious to learn more about Hoenikker from his surviving children, John followed them to the impecunious island of San Lorenzo. In San Lorenzo John was introduced to Bokononism, the dominant (yet illegal) religion of the island; which among its many bizarre features, openly proclaimed that it was a total lie. While on the island, John also learned more about Ice Nine, the final project that Hoenikker created. Ice Nine ( a simple rearrangement of water molecules) had the ability to freeze instantly any body of water, due to a complex crystalline formation. Although the ice was to be Hoenikker’s great gift to the military to freeze swamps during battle, so they could move troops more efficiently; it ended up being a creation more fatal than the atomic bomb itself. Subsequently John's adventures came to a harsh, if strangely appropriate end caused by the selfishness of human nature. The moral of the story, laced with deception, ignorance, self-indulgence, and control is that life is entirely worthless and fails to serve a purpose. Yet, the comic relief and vivacity of the novel gives it power and charm, curiously contrasted with its depressing meaning.

In the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to the deceased Felix Hoenikker, a man who was full of curiosity and had an uncanny regard for everything scientific. Not only was he the father of the atomic bomb, but shortly before his death he created the destructive Ice Nine. With the ability to freeze anything liquid it was essentially the end of the world, should it get into the wrong hands. Although the original intention of the water derived destructor was to help soldiers solidify swampy muck when fighting wars, so they could easily get through waste quickly and cleanly; it also had the ability to end all human existence. The development of Ice Nine throughout the novel, as well as Hoenikker’s prominence in the success of the atom bomb, is Vonnegut’s scoff at militaries, scientists and governments, and how humanity sometimes uses magnificent creations for evil and destruction.

Another part of the book that denotes the self-destructive nature of human kind is the various beliefs of the Bokononism, in particular the karass. “We Bokononists believe that humanity is organized into teams, teams that do God’s will without ever discovering what they are doing. Such a team is called a karass...” (2, Vonnegut). This is Vonnegut’s basis to poke fun at the idea of fate. (In spite of this, this is how the reader comes to understand exactly what characters are essential to the story.) Another part of Bokononism that was pertinent to the mockery of humans were the books, which seemed to be contradictory, and very satirical towards society; Especially in the fourteenth book, entitled “What Can A Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?” (245, Vonnegut). The book only has a one word answer, “Nothing.” (245, Vonnegut). This was Vonnegut’s very blunt way of saying that humanity is self destructive, and based on history, there is no hope for the future.

Cat’s Cradle also puts a great amount of emphasis on how religion is a fraud, and that people would rather believe in deceit, than believe in nothing at all. On the very first page of the book it has an excerpt from book 1:5 of Bokononism which reads, “Nothing in this book is true. Live by the foma (harmless untruths) that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.” (Vonnegut, VII). The novel is Vonnegut’s outlet of showing that people would rather believe lies, than be forced to face the truth. Numerous pages of the book are solely devoted to the ludicrous beliefs of Bokononism, and almost have the ability to make the reader laugh aloud with its unconventional teachings, odd rituals, and blatant lies; nevertheless Bokononism has the devotion of an entire country. This shows the true ignorance of so many people who believe pseudo-prophecies for the sake of security, rather than candid