Cat's Cradle
Summary
Cat's Cradle, published in 1963, is one of Kurt Vonnegut's most acclaimed satirical novels. This darkly humorous tale explores themes of science, religion, and human folly through the lens of a fictional substance called ice-nine that can freeze water at room temperature. Vonnegut's biting commentary on the Cold War era, nuclear proliferation, and the dangers of unchecked technological advancement continues to resonate with readers.
Plot
Cat's Cradle follows the journey of the narrator, John/Jonah, who sets out to write a book about the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. His research leads him to investigate Dr. Felix Hoenikker, one of the creators of the bomb, and his three eccentric children. John discovers that Hoenikker had also created a substance called ice-nine, capable of freezing water at room temperature. This dangerous invention is now in the possession of Hoenikker's children.
The story then shifts to the fictional Caribbean island of San Lorenzo, where John travels on a magazine assignment. There he encounters Hoenikker's children and becomes entangled in the island's politics and unusual religion called Bokononism. The current dictator of San Lorenzo is dying, and through a series of events, John finds himself unexpectedly offered the presidency of the island.
The novel reaches its climax when ice-nine is accidentally released into the environment, causing a global catastrophe as the world's water begins to freeze. John and a small group of survivors take refuge on San Lorenzo, grappling with the aftermath of this apocalyptic event. The story concludes with a reflection on human folly and the unpredictable nature of scientific advancement, as the survivors contemplate their future in a dramatically altered world.
Themes
• Science and technology as double-edged swords
• Absurdity and futility of human existence
• Dangers of willful ignorance and indifference
• Religion as a means of coping with life's hardships
• Critique of Cold War politics and nuclear proliferation
• Interconnectedness of all people and events
• Dark humor as a way to confront difficult truths
Setting
Cat's Cradle is set primarily in the mid-20th century during the Cold War era, with the looming threat of nuclear destruction serving as a backdrop to the story. The novel takes place across several locations, beginning in Ilium, New York, where the narrator, John/Jonah, investigates the late Felix Hoenikker's work on the atomic bomb.
Much of the latter half of the book is set on the fictional Caribbean island nation of San Lorenzo. This small, impoverished country is depicted as a dictatorship ruled by “Papa” Monzano, who outwardly aligns with the United States while secretly practicing the outlawed religion of Bokononism. The capital city of Bolivar serves as the main setting on the island, with its dilapidated infrastructure and sole working taxi highlighting San Lorenzo's economic struggles.
Other key settings include the research facilities of General Electric, where Hoenikker developed the catastrophic substance ice-nine, and brief interludes on an airplane as characters travel to San Lorenzo. The novel's climax and aftermath unfold across a global scale, as ice-nine's effects ripple out to impact the entire planet, transforming the setting into a postapocalyptic frozen wasteland.
Characters
• John/Jonah (Narrator): The protagonist and narrator, a writer researching the atomic bomb who becomes entangled with the Hoenikker family and the turbulent state of the island of San Lorenzo.
• Dr. Felix Hoenikker: The brilliant but amoral scientist who helped create the atomic bomb and invented ice-nine.
• Frank Hoenikker: Felix's older son, a technically-minded man who becomes a Major General in San Lorenzo.
• Angela Hoenikker Conners: Felix's tall daughter, a clarinetist who acted as a mother figure to her siblings.
• Newton “Newt” Hoenikker: Felix's dwarf son, a painter who had a brief affair with a Soviet spy.
• "Papa” Monzano: The ailing dictator of San Lorenzo who commits suicide with ice-nine.
• Mona Aamons Monzano: Papa's beautiful adopted daughter, expected to marry his successor.
• Bokonon: Founder of Bokononism and co-founder of San Lorenzo, living in exile.
• Dr. Asa Breed: Felix Hoenikker's former supervisor. He gives the narrator a tour of Ilium.
H. Lowe Crosby: An American businessman whom the narrator meets on his flight to San Lorenzo
• Horlick Minton: The new American ambassador to San Lorenzo.
Quick facts
• Cat’s Cradle, published in 1963, was Kurt Vonnegut's fourth book.
• The title refers to the string game “cat's cradle,” which is mentioned several times in the novel. It symbolizes the futility and absurdity of human endeavors, as the game involves creating intricate string patterns that ultimately have no purpose.
• The fictional substance ice-nine was inspired by a real scientist, Irving Langmuir, whom Vonnegut met while working at General Electric.
• The book contains 127 very short chapters, some only a paragraph long.
• Vonnegut created an entire fictional religion called Bokononism for the novel.
• Written during the height of the Cold War, Cat's Cradle reflects fears of nuclear annihilation and global destruction.
• Cat’s Cradle was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1964.
• Much of the novel is set on the fictional Caribbean island of San Lorenzo.
• The Grateful Dead named their publishing company Ice Nine after the substance in the book.
• Leonardo DiCaprio's production company optioned the film rights to the novel in 2005.
• Cat’s Cradle was banned by a school board in Ohio in 1972 for being “completely sick” and “garbage."
• Vonnegut collaborated on a musical album based on the book called Ice-9 Ballads in 2001.
• Cat’s Cradle is ultimately a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked scientific progress and the human capacity for self-delusion.
About the author
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) was an American author known for his novels blending dark humor and elements of science fiction with social commentary. His distinctive writing style featured short, simple sentences to explore complex themes, including war, technology, and the human condition.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Vonnegut studied biochemistry at Cornell University before serving in World War II. As a prisoner of war, he survived the firebombing of Dresden, an experience that would profoundly influence his writing, particularly his most famous novel, Slaughterhouse-Five. After the war, Vonnegut worked as a journalist and in public relations while developing his craft as a writer. His first novel, Player Piano, was published in 1952. Over the next five decades, he would go on to write 14 novels, including acclaimed works like Cat's Cradle and Breakfast of Champions.
Beyond his novels, Vonnegut was an accomplished short story writer, essayist, and visual artist. He lectured widely and became an outspoken humanist and pacifist, using his platform to critique American society and politics. Vonnegut's work often grappled with big questions about the meaning of life and humanity's place in the universe, filtered through his sardonic wit and deep empathy for society's underdogs. His unique voice and perspective resonated strongly with the counterculture of the 1960s and 70s, and his books continue to be widely read and studied.