Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Cat’s Cradle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Science and Morality
Religion
Governance, Politics, and Nationhood
Absurdity and Meaninglessness
Summary
Analysis
John writes a speech for his inauguration. He feels that in writing it he has to “lean on God.” He considers inviting Bokonon to join his government, “bringing about a sort of millennium for the people.”
John, like Bokonon and McCabe, has noble intentions at the start to improve the lot of the islanders. It’s worth remembering that John only converted to Bokononism to impress Mona.
Themes
John realizes that, if he did bring Bokonon back, he’d have to then improve the lives of the inhabitants: “good things for all to eat … nice places to live … good schools … good health and good times for all.” He concludes that he can’t provide these and that “good and evil” will have to remain “separate.” Guests begin to arrive for the ceremony and John walks to the uppermost battlement of the castle, looking out over his guests, servants, the cliff and “my lukewarm sea.”
Like “Papa” and Bokonon before him, John quickly sees that improving the lot of his people is impossible, and that he will need to rely on the myth of good and evil to rule effectively.
Themes
