Cat's Cradle Analysis

Hunger. Everyone is always looking to satisfy it. The hunger to find the truth, to solve a problem and to solve next problem, all support the overlaying theme in the book, Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. A series of unexpected plot twists and several cliff hangers is the basis of this book. The decision made by Vonnegut to use these puzzling writing aspects was an impressive and smart decision. He was able not only engage the reader to continue reading as they tried to satisfy their own hunger regarding the actions of the characters but also was able to support the theme found in the book. The theme of Cat’s Cradle is that people’s desire to seek the truth and advanced their knowledge will result in negative outcomes due to their poor self-control, …show more content…
It is a small grain like powder that restructures the lower atoms of a wet solution when it is exposed to moisture. This ability of ice-nine is very dangerous. However, instead of getting rid of the dangerous solution, Vonnegut has the characters procrastinate the dangers to themselves in order from them to accept the power they have from this powder. The dangers of ice-nine were found out by the Newt, Frank and Angela in Chapter 112. On page 438 (of 507), “Newt held it [ice-nine] out the dog, and the dog licked it. And the dog froze stiff” (Vonnegut). This shows the reader that the characters have gained knowledge of the dangers of the solution. However, instead of getting rid of the solution, the children divide the rest of it up between them and mention to each other to keep it dry and to themselves as it is not dangerous like …show more content…
Vonnegut exposes the truth on how Frank received his position of Major General for the country of San Lorenzo in chapter 108. When, Newt, Frank, Angela and Jonah come to see how Papa had died, they quickly realize it was from ice-nine. In addition, the characters come to a conclusion that Frank’s desire to receive this job overrode all of his knowledge of the dangers of ice-nine along with his prior commitment to give the ice-nine to anyone without having Frank directly state it. Frank’s decision to give away his ice-nine also exposes that Angela’s ice-nine has also been given it away and Newt’s has been stolen. The improper use of ice-nine is demonstrated once again as not only has a dog and Felix died from ice-nine, but now Papa and the doctor trying to save him. A series of events that stem from here also show how the dangers of the ice-nine had become out of human control as their temptations had caused them to lose their prior control of it. This is seen as nearly everyone of San Lorenzo dies expect a handful of the main characters of the