Vonnegut's Nihilistic Views Exposed in Cat's Cradle

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Vonnegut's Nihilistic Views Exposed in Cat's Cradle

If humans strive to fulfill their void, of a lack of

meaning in their lives, their folly will blind them from the

truth. Kurt Vonnegut portrays his inner emotions and

feelings of the insignificance of religion through the

characters of his novel, Cat's Cradle. His satiric approach

to a subject that many people base their daily existence

upon, challenges the readers faith. As people search for

a deeper meaning in their lives, the more confused they

become. Only to become entwined in the Cat 's Cradle of

life.

In the beginning, the reader is warned: "Anyone unable

to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies

will not understand this book either" (5-6). The theme

throughout the entire novel is set as, religion is based on

lies to give people something to believe, and find meaning

in.

Vonnegut created a religion in his novel, Bokonism,

founded by a man named Bokonon. Through lies, and short

poems, Bokonon spreads his religion to the people of San

Lorenzo, a small desolate island with no future. "All of the

true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies."(5)

Vonnegut, through the ideals of Bokononism, gives the reader

insight into the notion that all religions are based on

lies, and un-truths. When Bokonon, christened Lionel Boyd

Johnson, arrived at the Island of San Lorenzo, he saw the

place as a disaster, which would yield no economic wealth or

prosperity. Theonly way that he saw possible for of this

place to become a utopia was to invent lies in which the

people could base their existence. These lies would convince

the people ...

... middle of paper ...

... of

human existence is "protein" (24). This fact of science

intensifies the conclusion that human existence is futile

without meaning, such a meaning that religion provides.

However, that is just the statement that Vonnegut expects

the people of the world to make. The void that humans feel

a need to fill, with thoughts such as religion, will never

be filled; the search for meaning is never-ending. Just like

an endless, pointless game of Cat's Cradle. Bokonon, in his

infinite wisdom knew not to take his own advice and the

validity of it was null. There is no truth, there is no

meaning, "No damn cat, and no damn cradle" (66).

Bibliography

Vonnegut, Kurt: Cat's Cradle Delta Books 1998. (287 pages)

Price, Liana: Understanding Religion Through Cat's Cradle

(http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4953/kv_religion.html)

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