Cat's Cradle

Synopsis

Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle is an irreverent and highly entertaining fantasy about the playful irresponsibility of nuclear scientists, beautifully repackaged as part of the Penguin Essentials range.

'All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies.'

Dr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding fathers of the atomic bomb, has left a deadly legacy to the world. For he is the inventor of Ice-nine, a lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet. The search for its whereabouts leads to Hoenikker's three eccentric children, to a crazed dictator in the Caribbean, to madness.

Will Felix Hoenikker's death wish come true? Will his last, fatal gift to humankind bring about the end that, for all of us, is nigh?

Told with deadpan humour and bitter irony, Kurt Vonnegut's cult tale of global apocalypse preys on our deepest fears of witnessing the end and, worse still, surviving it . . .

'The time to read Vonnegut is just when you begin to suspect that the world is not what it appears to be. He is not only entertaining, he is electrocuting. You read him with enormous pleasure because he makes your hair stand on end' New York Times

'One of the warmest, wisest, funniest voices to be found anywhere in fiction' Daily Telegraph

'Vonnegut has looked the world straight in the eye and never flinched' J. G. Ballard

Kurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis in 1922. He studied at the universities of Chicago and Tennessee and later began to write short stories for magazines. His first novel, Player Piano, was published in 1951 and was followed by The Sirens of Titan (1959), Mother Night (1961), Cat's Cradle (1963), God Bless You Mr Rosewater (1964), Welcome to the Monkey House (1968); a collection of short stories, Slaughterhouse Five (1969), Breakfast of Champions (1973), Slapstick, or Lonesome No More (1976), Jailbird (1979), Deadeye Dick (1982), Galapagos (1985), Bluebeard (1988), Hocus Pocus (1990) and Timequake (1997). He is also the author of a number of collections of short stories and essays. Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007.

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Summary

Chapter 1: The book begins with the protagonist, John, traveling to the fictional Caribbean island of San Lorenzo. He meets an eccentric scientist named Dr. Felix Hoenikker, who is the creator of the powerful substance Ice-9. Hoenikker gives John a book on San Lorenzo's history and tells him about the strange religion of Bokononism, which is practiced on the island.

Real Example: In this chapter, the author, Kurt Vonnegut, sets the stage for the rest of the story by introducing the readers to the main characters and the concept of Ice-9. The island of San Lorenzo, though fictional, is similar to many small islands in the Caribbean that have unique cultures and practices. The idea of Bokononism, a religion with made-up scripture and a cynical viewpoint of life, is a satirical take on organized religion. The eccentricity of Dr. Hoenikker and his invention of Ice-9 sets the tone for the absurdity and dark humor that will be prevalent throughout the book.

Chapter 2: John arrives on the island and is greeted by the President of San Lorenzo, Papa Monzano, and his adopted daughter, Mona. The two take John on a tour of the island, and he learns more about Bokononism and its founder, Bokonon. Mona also tells John about the strict laws regarding the use of Ice-9 on the island.

Real Example: In this chapter, we see the stark contrast between the utopian facade of San Lorenzo and the harsh realities. Despite the peaceful and friendly appearance of the island, the laws regarding Ice-9 reveal the potential danger of the substance. The characters of Papa Monzano and Mona also introduce the themes of power and manipulation, as it becomes clear that Papa Monzano is using Ice-9 to maintain control over the island.

Chapter 3: John spends more time with Mona and starts to develop feelings for her. He also learns about her arranged marriage to the violent and unstable dictator, "Papa" Monzano. John becomes increasingly curious about Ice-9 and seeks out Dr. Hoenikker's other children, Angela, Newt, and Frank. Together, they find Hoenikker's old laboratory and learn that he had falsely claimed to have destroyed all samples of Ice-9.

Real Example: In this chapter, John's relationship with Mona complicates as he starts to question her role in Papa Monzano's oppressive regime. The discovery of the hidden laboratory further emphasizes the dangers of Ice-9 and Hoenikker's careless attitude towards it. The children of Dr. Hoenikker also add a comedic element to the story with their bickering and distinct personalities.

Chapter 4: John and the Hoenikker children meet with the American ambassador to San Lorenzo, Horlick Minton, to discuss the existence of Ice-9. However, upon learning that Ice-9 is still intact, Minton becomes increasingly paranoid and orders a team to retrieve it. The children escape to the island's ocean-side, where they reveal to John that they have stolen a vial of Ice-9, which they intend to use to destroy the world.

Real Example: This chapter marks a turning point in the story as the potential consequences of Ice-9 become real and immediate. Minton's irrational actions highlight the paranoia and destructive nature of those in power, while the children's plan to use Ice-9 reveals their disillusionment and disregard for humanity.

Chapter 5: Chaos erupts as Papa Monzano's army invades the ocean-side, and the vial of Ice-9 is accidentally dropped, causing a catastrophic chain reaction that turns the entire ocean into solid Ice-9. John, Mona, and the Hoenikker children are the only survivors and find themselves stranded on a small piece of land, forming a "cat's cradle" with their intertwined fingers.

Real Example: This chapter is the climax of the book, as the destruction caused by Ice-9 becomes a reality. The concept of a "cat's cradle," a playful game that symbolizes the tangled mess of human relationships, is a metaphor for the chaotic and absurd nature of human existence. The survivors' desperate attempt to find meaning in this catastrophic event mirrors humanity's search for purpose and understanding in life.