Cat’s Cradle Theme Analysis Essay

Vonneguts intriguing story of a writer sent to San Lorenzo pits science and truth against religion and lies. The few characters of Cats rocker expand one trait or the other, with John, the main character and writer of the memoir which is the book, observing and attempting to understand each point of view. As John learns of San Lorenzos forbidden religion, Bokononism, and explores the lives of the scientists responsible for the atomic bomb and a new, dangerous, chemical called Ice-nine, he finds himself searching for his reason of living as well. Through Johns character, Vonnegut exemplifies this theme of an overall search for moral structure and a purpose for life.In order to organize the development of the theme, Vonnegut begins his novel by creating a sense of pointlessness for the characters to throw off of, a blank slate. Newt, the son of Felix Hoenikker, who was the creator of the Atomic Bomb and Ice-nine, creates this mood in his description of the yarn game Cats Cradle. H e asks John to point out the cat and cradle in the yarn formation, which he obviously cant Vonnegut is commenting on humanitys attempts to find meaning where no meaning exists. It is with this notion in mind that John begins his exploration of science and religion.Science is Johns first intercept in his search for purpose. The author points out that in scientists desperate search for truth, which seems to be the moreover thing with importance, they arent intelligent enough to read that the truth is given a false connotation. In the Hoenikkers case, the truth was the basis for millions of people being killed by the atomic bomb and the end of the terra firma through Ice-nine. So, truth is rejected as innately good, which leaves John with nothing only if lies and religion.However, in San Lorenzo, lies and religion are a good combination. John is introduced to Bokononism when he gets his hands on a copy of The Books of Bokonon. The basis of this religion is that anything considered good, whether it be an organization, a cause, or a religion, is based on foma, or lies. Vonnegut comes back to his received point of humanity trying to give things meaning. John has only experienced the futility of this concept, but through Bokonon, he is able to see a different and to a greater extent easily acceptable argument Live by the harmless untruths that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy (Vonnegut 265, The Books of Bokonon). He begins to understand what Bokonon was getting at that in attempting to give the world meaning, men lied in order to make life more interesting.Johns character travels through Vonneguts moral maze, beginning with a supposedly meaningless world, finding that truth isnt always good, and realizing that lies are not only behind everything, but are good for the soul. Vonneguts character and theme come to rest when Ice-nine has replaced the worlds water and brought to pass the end of the world. John, as one of the only people left living, fina lly understands and accepts Bokonons idea that, although foma may be dangerous or harmful, lies are what make life worth living.