Summary Of Cat's Cradle By Kurt Vonnegut
Cat’s cradle
By: Kurt Vonnegut
1. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a prolific and genre-bending American author. The novelist known for works blending satire, black comedy and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973). Vonnegut was a productive writer as well as a designer. His first short story, "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" appeared in February 11, 1950. His first novel was the novel Player Piano (1952), in which human workers have been largely replaced by machines. Through the 1960s, the form of his work changed, from the relatively orthodox structure of Cat's Cradle which in 1971 earned him a master's degree. Vonnegut's work as a graphic artist began with his illustrations for Slaughterhouse-Five and developed with Breakfast of Champions, which included numerous felt-tip pen illustrations, such as anal sphincters, and other less scatological images. Later in his career, he became more interested in artwork, particularly silk-screen …show more content…
prints, pursued in collaboration with Joe Petro III.
2. Cat’s cradle is book which right away grabs the attention of its reader. The format of the story is based on science fiction. It is about the different environmental conflicts. The story is comprised of several themes including war and love. The story has clear beginning and middle but the end is shocking as Vonnegut reveals the bitter truth about the world which everyone simply wants to ignore.
3. Vonnegut through his book describes many environmental conflicts and issues but the main conflicts described in this book are about ice caps while he also touches upon the issue of atomic explosion. It briefly describes about the society that produced the atomic bomb, nerve gas, automatic firearms, and a host of other efficient means to kill and maim human beings, process of industrialization that produced cheaper that harmed environment and ultimately our own Earth. Not only that but seemingly harmless man that helped building the atomic bomb later produced ice-nine, an isotope of water that is solid at room temperature. By the end of Cat's Cradle, this second invention is responsible for the death of almost every living thing on earth.
4. As the time passes, the situation keeps on getting worst. It all started with atomic bomb and human race are still suffering from the impacts of such a deadly act after several years. The scientific creation of ice- nine, which could simply and without effort turn water to ice can kill every thing that ever existed on this earth within no time. Nevertheless, many people in the twentieth century took the egotistical position that humanity had reached a new pinnacle of maturity. Science became a revered institution of truth and knowledge and it is still the same. Many people are using science in a wrong way which is ultimately going to destroy every single thing on this planet just like Vonnegut describes at the end of the novel.
5. The environmental issue being addressed in the book global in scope as Vonnegut describes about the isotope of water that is solid in room temperature which can kill every one that ever existed in this world as well as atomic explosion issues which affected every single being on this Earth.
6. Each Bokononist believes that he or she belongs to a team that carries out God's will, but Bokononism warns that the individual will never fully understand what his or her part in the divine plan is. Everything that happens in his or her life is "meant to happen," so the Bokononist feels no pressure to do anything other than live his or her life with the faith that he or she is inevitably doing God's will. Vonnegut in his novel emphasizes that religion's main purpose is to make its practitioners feel as if their lives have meaning and purpose. All this is contrary to other religions which completely changes on how one views certain concepts and problems.
7.
In the book there is a scene where Felix's total ignorance, indifference, and "innocence" toward the moral responsibility that accompanied his nuclear weapons dragged this planet toward the end. The prisoner asked Felix's advice about the type of bomb that could destroy the world because Felix was one of the fathers of the atomic bomb. More interested in playing Cat's Cradle with a piece of string than thinking about the possible applications of his weapons research. Once the bomb had been created, Felix lost all interest in it. Clearly, Vonnegut does not equate innocence with harmlessness. In the book one can see that innocence such as that found in Felix can be incredibly destructive. All this changed my personal view point on environmental issues. Till now I had a belief that every frightful act in the environment was intentionally done but by this scenario described in the book, I now know that some dreadful acts are just mere “mistakes” and
“ignorance”.
8. “Ignorance is no bliss” is something I learned from this book. In the novel the father of the atomic bomb, Felix was more interested in playing Cat's Cradle with a piece of string than thinking about the possible applications of his weapons research. His ignorance took the lives of millions other people and completely changed their future. This made me realize that every small things matter a lot in life and ignorance isn’t something that I should choose when it comes to my life changing decisions and global issues which we constantly ignore.
9. This book is for the people who think that ignorance is something that will solve everything. This book describes about all hazardous effects of human activities and inventions on this planet. Ill inventions of human race nearly destroyed everything in the past. Now it’s our duty to bring everything back. And this is why Vonnegut wrote this book. This book is to make people realize that it’s still not too late if you want to save this planet.
10. This book is very complicated when it comes to certain concepts. It’s a book comprising of several themes tied to each other. This book is enjoyable but scary at times. I truly enjoyed reading when Vonnegut describes about the “accidental” invention of atomic bomb. It is very complex as it ties the themes of war, love, scientific inventions and global environmental issues together. The part when one of his colleagues commented that science had known sin after the first bomb was tested, Felix asked him what sin was. Felix, unlike his colleague, did not understand or acknowledge the moral responsibility they had incurred in creating the atomic bomb. Felix was very much like a child in the way he approached his research, whether it involved nuclear physics or the behavior of turtles. This part shows how one’s mere ignorance can lead to complete destruction. This part was amazingly describes which made me think about the current problems and “ignorance” that society prefers at the time of threat.
11. If a sequel to this book was written 10 years after the copyright date, that is 1973 will present a more of a negative picture on the issues addressed. The issues in the book are so dreadful that 10 yrs is a very small amount of time to present a positive picture. The scientific inventions often had its dreadful effects which some people realize after it took place. For example after the discovery of atomic bomb many other dreadful weapons were invented which ultimately pushes this planet one step forward towards the destruction. 10 yrs makes no mere difference in how people think and how they act. Humans are greedy and they are going to be the same way unless and until people stop ignoring the conflicts and other issues that matters,
By: Kurt Vonnegut
1. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a prolific and genre-bending American author. The novelist known for works blending satire, black comedy and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973). Vonnegut was a productive writer as well as a designer. His first short story, "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" appeared in February 11, 1950. His first novel was the novel Player Piano (1952), in which human workers have been largely replaced by machines. Through the 1960s, the form of his work changed, from the relatively orthodox structure of Cat's Cradle which in 1971 earned him a master's degree. Vonnegut's work as a graphic artist began with his illustrations for Slaughterhouse-Five and developed with Breakfast of Champions, which included numerous felt-tip pen illustrations, such as anal sphincters, and other less scatological images. Later in his career, he became more interested in artwork, particularly silk-screen …show more content…
prints, pursued in collaboration with Joe Petro III.
2. Cat’s cradle is book which right away grabs the attention of its reader. The format of the story is based on science fiction. It is about the different environmental conflicts. The story is comprised of several themes including war and love. The story has clear beginning and middle but the end is shocking as Vonnegut reveals the bitter truth about the world which everyone simply wants to ignore.
3. Vonnegut through his book describes many environmental conflicts and issues but the main conflicts described in this book are about ice caps while he also touches upon the issue of atomic explosion. It briefly describes about the society that produced the atomic bomb, nerve gas, automatic firearms, and a host of other efficient means to kill and maim human beings, process of industrialization that produced cheaper that harmed environment and ultimately our own Earth. Not only that but seemingly harmless man that helped building the atomic bomb later produced ice-nine, an isotope of water that is solid at room temperature. By the end of Cat's Cradle, this second invention is responsible for the death of almost every living thing on earth.
4. As the time passes, the situation keeps on getting worst. It all started with atomic bomb and human race are still suffering from the impacts of such a deadly act after several years. The scientific creation of ice- nine, which could simply and without effort turn water to ice can kill every thing that ever existed on this earth within no time. Nevertheless, many people in the twentieth century took the egotistical position that humanity had reached a new pinnacle of maturity. Science became a revered institution of truth and knowledge and it is still the same. Many people are using science in a wrong way which is ultimately going to destroy every single thing on this planet just like Vonnegut describes at the end of the novel.
5. The environmental issue being addressed in the book global in scope as Vonnegut describes about the isotope of water that is solid in room temperature which can kill every one that ever existed in this world as well as atomic explosion issues which affected every single being on this Earth.
6. Each Bokononist believes that he or she belongs to a team that carries out God's will, but Bokononism warns that the individual will never fully understand what his or her part in the divine plan is. Everything that happens in his or her life is "meant to happen," so the Bokononist feels no pressure to do anything other than live his or her life with the faith that he or she is inevitably doing God's will. Vonnegut in his novel emphasizes that religion's main purpose is to make its practitioners feel as if their lives have meaning and purpose. All this is contrary to other religions which completely changes on how one views certain concepts and problems.
7.
In the book there is a scene where Felix's total ignorance, indifference, and "innocence" toward the moral responsibility that accompanied his nuclear weapons dragged this planet toward the end. The prisoner asked Felix's advice about the type of bomb that could destroy the world because Felix was one of the fathers of the atomic bomb. More interested in playing Cat's Cradle with a piece of string than thinking about the possible applications of his weapons research. Once the bomb had been created, Felix lost all interest in it. Clearly, Vonnegut does not equate innocence with harmlessness. In the book one can see that innocence such as that found in Felix can be incredibly destructive. All this changed my personal view point on environmental issues. Till now I had a belief that every frightful act in the environment was intentionally done but by this scenario described in the book, I now know that some dreadful acts are just mere “mistakes” and
“ignorance”.
8. “Ignorance is no bliss” is something I learned from this book. In the novel the father of the atomic bomb, Felix was more interested in playing Cat's Cradle with a piece of string than thinking about the possible applications of his weapons research. His ignorance took the lives of millions other people and completely changed their future. This made me realize that every small things matter a lot in life and ignorance isn’t something that I should choose when it comes to my life changing decisions and global issues which we constantly ignore.
9. This book is for the people who think that ignorance is something that will solve everything. This book describes about all hazardous effects of human activities and inventions on this planet. Ill inventions of human race nearly destroyed everything in the past. Now it’s our duty to bring everything back. And this is why Vonnegut wrote this book. This book is to make people realize that it’s still not too late if you want to save this planet.
10. This book is very complicated when it comes to certain concepts. It’s a book comprising of several themes tied to each other. This book is enjoyable but scary at times. I truly enjoyed reading when Vonnegut describes about the “accidental” invention of atomic bomb. It is very complex as it ties the themes of war, love, scientific inventions and global environmental issues together. The part when one of his colleagues commented that science had known sin after the first bomb was tested, Felix asked him what sin was. Felix, unlike his colleague, did not understand or acknowledge the moral responsibility they had incurred in creating the atomic bomb. Felix was very much like a child in the way he approached his research, whether it involved nuclear physics or the behavior of turtles. This part shows how one’s mere ignorance can lead to complete destruction. This part was amazingly describes which made me think about the current problems and “ignorance” that society prefers at the time of threat.
11. If a sequel to this book was written 10 years after the copyright date, that is 1973 will present a more of a negative picture on the issues addressed. The issues in the book are so dreadful that 10 yrs is a very small amount of time to present a positive picture. The scientific inventions often had its dreadful effects which some people realize after it took place. For example after the discovery of atomic bomb many other dreadful weapons were invented which ultimately pushes this planet one step forward towards the destruction. 10 yrs makes no mere difference in how people think and how they act. Humans are greedy and they are going to be the same way unless and until people stop ignoring the conflicts and other issues that matters,