Cat's Crad Nihilism Analysis

It is the popular belief of nihilists that life has no meaning, and, in thinking in such a way, nihilists reject many of the institutions, such as religion, that seek to present meaning where there is none. Kurt Vonnegut, author of Cat’s Cradle presents the overbearing nihilist idea that life is without meaning and challenges the notion that the rejection of institutions such as religion is the correct response. Vonnegut tests these responses in his novel so as to challenge the conventional idea of nihilism and its benefits to those who choose to follow it. Cat’s Cradle is Vonnegut’s response to classic nihilism. Through the citizens of the island of San Lorenzo, Vonnegut explores the notion that those aware of the emptiness of life can accept

His rejection of the classic humanism that emphasizes the importance of human existence “marks only the first step in the creation of his postmodern humanism.” (Boon 159). This postmodern humanism does not concern itself with the philosophical nature of human existence, it is far more interested in mankind’s response (Boon 151). Vonnegut is not concerned with the “why?” but rather with the question “What are you going to do about it?”. In Cat’s Cradle he provides two examples of such responses to the futility of existence. Firstly, and most frequently appearing throughout the novel, is the creation of false meaning. If life truly means nothing, then one can pick and choose what matters and tell themselves that it does without moral consequence. So, life has meaning, but only where it is wanted. A prime example of this in the novel is in the fake religion adopted by all of the San Lorenzans, Bokononism. The entirety of this religion lays its basis on the fact that it is made up of foma, otherwise known as shameless lies. Bokonists are aware of this fact and continue to follow the religion to a tee, because what the religion offers is greater that living a meaningless life. As much as it is a lie, it provides a way of life for those lost in their current situation. San Lorenzo is very underdeveloped; its citizens live with a poor infrastructure and under the dictatorship of “Papa”

To him it is not necessarily the thought that matters, but what one does in response to them that decides the nature of life. The idea that living in one’s own chosen ignorance is better, or at least more appealing, than living in painful consciousness is Vonnegut’s way of communicating his ideas of an altered kind of nihilism. Life is surely an empty series of events, but in that emptiness, there is an opportunity to fill it. Life can have as much meaning as one allows it to have. So, the individual gains the most control by seizing the empty truth and taking action accordingly. We have the most control when it comes to the nature of how we live. Vonnegut is presenting this idea to his audience with the intent of empowering them to take control and make their lives what they