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 cries out about Bokononism: “such a depressing religion!” He and Newt talk about utopias. John recalls that Bokonon’s seventh book was on the same subject, quoting: “The hand that stocks the drug stores rules the world. Let us start our Republic with a chain of drug stores, a chain of grocery stores, a chain of gas chambers, and a national game. After that, we can write our Constitution.” John calls Bokonon a “jigaboo bastard.”
John is exasperated by Bokononism because its pointed criticisms of mankind cut close to the bone. The seventh book of Bokonon takes aim at free market capitalism, something which has escaped relatively—and surprisingly—unscathed within the book. “Jigaboo” is a racist slur. The title of this chapter comes from John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” which questions the meaning of human existence and culture.
Themes
John explains how Julian and Philip Castle died. They had set out on foot for the hospital while the tornadoes still raged. Angela died playing her clarinet, which was contaminated with ice-nine. “Soft pipes, play on,” murmurs John. Newt suggests that John could find “some neat way to die, too.” John wants to climb Mount McCabe and place a symbol there, but isn’t sure what symbol would be right. As they drive, they go past “an old Negro man,” who is alive. John realizes that he has just seen Bokonon.
Angela dies an absurd death, not lacking in poetry (as Newt points out). The idea of having a “neat” way to die is emblematic of the way that life has come to mean very little—and perhaps never did. It is fitting that, in such a darkly absurd book, one of its main characters only makes a first appearance in the penultimate chapter.
Themes
