Cat's Cradle Themes

706 Words3 Pages

In the story “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut, the contrast between science and religion relates to the lives of humans and the way society thinks. . In chapters 61 and 63 , Vonnegut describes that San Lorenzo is a nation of Christianity and Bokonon is outlawed and if anyone is caught practicing it, they will be killed. . Then, Vonnegut begins to describe a military base that has multiple signs of demons and demonic images which consequently makes the military base seem to be like hell. Also, when Papa Manzano, Mona Manzano, and Franklin Hoenikker get out of the car, they all begin to say the national anthem that was written by Lionel Boyd Johnson and Bokonon. This is ironic because in the previous chapters they outlawed any practice of …show more content…

The chapter opens with a description of “six propeller-driven fighter planes in a row, with military assistance from the United States to San Lorenzo.” (Vonnegut, 137) This exemplifies progression in San Lorenzo by showing there are newly-constructed military bases in San Lorenzo; however, with a stronger military there is lots of death while trying to save the people of their country. Though the military progressing forward along with the nation, this means that there will be casualties within the nation. This military advancement improves the progression of the county’s global status, but the individuals are still suffering. Again the passage states that San Lorenzo has “military assistance from the United States.” (Vonnegut, 137) This supports how even though San Lorenzo is such a small country, they are able to have connections with other countries like the United States. Which is good for smaller countries because these relationships could progress San Lorenzo to be a more well known country with a higher global status. Then, Vonnegut begins to describe many of the images throughout the base that include “a boa constrictor which was crushing a devil to death. Blood came from the devils ears, nose, and mouth.” (Vonnegut, 137) This shows how San Lorenzo is changing from a country of evil with all the corruption throughout