Emily’s Reading Reflection for “Cat’s Cradle”
Overall “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut was a difficult and rather strange read, in the way that the material was presented. But it was very interesting none the less. Some of the difficult areas I came across were acknowledging the made up words, religion, actions, and places. Also the fact that some scenes, objects, or people seemed to just be fillers in the story, which begged the question if it is an important message or not. Some of these confusions for me landed with Mona, Bokonism, the taxi driver/angel, the non-emotional reaction to his cat and apartment, the ending of the book and several other scenarios.  What started out as research for a book turned out to be a world changing and depressing life situation. After reading this story I have come to the conclusion that this book was not about understanding everything in the world or the people who live in it. Instead this story shows people that no one will never know and understand everything if anything, however that’s ok and sometimes that is just how it is meant to be. It is more important to acknowledge what one can instead of covering it up with comforting lies or pretending it doesn’t exist. People do not have to accept others interests and certain scenarios in the world but everyone should be aware that no matter what happens in the world it happens for a reason and people need to be able to be aware of it no matter how pleasant of unpleasant. This book also had to deal with many different “worlds” coming together into one story. This could be all the different strings webbed into a cat’s cradle. As Newt questions multiple times if people see the cat or the cradle. One might not see it, but something is there happening and connecting one way or another. The author also goes into detail about the stupidity and hopelessness humans have as a race. People will always have their flaws/stupidity and there may not be a point to a lot of things we do in the world, however that doesn’t mean everything and everyone is pointless. Humans do amazing things, and there are downsides to everything, focusing on negatives won’t accomplish anything. I also thought that the characters in the novel were very unique and some rather annoying. The main character John I feel had a complete mind set change as soon as he stepped foot in San Lorenzo his goal of creating a book and doing research was diminished in a new way. Mona seemed blinded by her ideals and as the book stats her and others “good manners killed them”. (Ch. 115, Pg. 259) Angela because of how she lived and was raised acts very unbalanced mentally as an adult.  Papa was a character that always confused me and Frank was not much better, they had their own hidden shady agendas. No two characters were alike in this story that much is for sure, and it added to the uniqueness and confusion of the story. So do you “see the cat”? “see the cradle”?  did he ever write his book. The world may never know, but that’s just ok. (Ch.81, Pg. 183)