Vonneguts Cats Cradle :: Vonnegut Cats Cradle Essays

Vonneguts Cats CradleVonnegut deals a lot with fantasy in his book, Cats Cradle. From the beginning, he talks about the religion that he follows Bokonism. This is not a veridical religion, however he has rules, songs, scriptures, and opinions of a person that practices this fantasy religion. Within his description of this religion however is black humor as well. I think that by him making up this whole religion and an entire island of people who follow it, is in a way mocking todays religion and the way that people be dedicated to their beliefs. This Bokonism is basically telling the religious believer that everything that they read or hear is a lie, and that they need to think for themselves. I think one of the superior parts that shows black humor is on page 77, where Bokonon (like Adam) arrives on land, completely naked, and has a revelation. A fish pitched up By the angry sea, I gasped on land, And I became me. Also I found it very interesting how it was illegal to practice Bo konism, yet everyone on the island, including Papa practices it. Its almost as if Vonnegut is act to tell us how other religions are. . . and if any religion is a true and honest religion. I think that Vonnegut also deals a lot with surrealism. I on the button really thought it was funny how everything in his life sort of just fit together, like it was meant to happen. Like the Bokonon worshipers, they believed that everyone fit in a karass and all followed a similar life plan, rotated in, out, and around each other. For example, I thought that it was so interesting how everyone fit together. hex went on a plan to bump Frank Hoenikker, and who does he sit next to, but the senator, who is reading a book, written by the man who owns the hotel where Jonah stays, was in love with the woman who Jonah is in love with, who is marrying Frank.