Cat's Cradle (commentary)

Cat's Cradle may be considered a satire. It is chock-full of irony and parody, but at its core is poking fun at dark or uncomfortable subject matter, and a cautionary tale for us as humans. Vonnegut makes his reader criticize the serious issues of our culture, of which science, religion, nation, and family are only a few. Human stupidity and indifference in this age of technology and threat of mass destruction (consider our recent war...) becomes an important sticking point with the author.

The twentieth century added scientific advancement and industrialization or technology to a mix of religious, class, and international conflict --(remember the 1960's/1970's?) Although science and technology offers us a better standard of living (consider the poverty, for example, of India or rural China, as well as the poverty in Washington D.C., our country's capitol), it also produces human suffering. "The same scientific community that discovered antibiotics also produced the atomic bomb, nerve gas, automatic firearms, and a host of other efficient means to kill and maim human beings. The same process of industrialization that produced cheaper, standardized material goods came hand in hand with abusive labor practices and unsafe working conditions."

Violent religious, ethnic, and international conflicts are prevalent in our study of history. We may think we're beyond that, but are we? The 20th century mistakenly assumed that humankind had finally gotten it right--that we are a mature and logical people who could solve our problems. Not so, says Vonnegut.
Cat's Cradle ridicules our human hubris (excessive pride) by stressing the point that "human stupidity is not only alive and well in the twentieth century, but armed to the teeth."
 
Consider this context and take a look at the character list posted below before you gather in your discussion group today.

HOMEWORK: Complete Cat's Cradle. We will have a test on the book next week.