Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle” is a
satire that pokes fun at most of human nature.
He teases man’s many faults like stupidity, but he completely tears down
the oh-so human belief that truth is good.
Honestly, I think this is the first book I’ve ever read where liars are
praised. Think about it: The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, The
Great Gatsby… nearly all the books we read growing up and in high school
emphasized that truth is honorable, that honesty is the only respectable way to
live, that only the innocent, those who have never told lies, are “good.” But Vonnegut, through the voice of Bokonon
and various other characters, basically says, “Screw that!” Does being truthful guarantee we will be rich
and successful? Not usually. Does it
make us happier? Not always. Does it
mean we will live longer, smile more, or cry less? Probably not.
Bokononism is based on foma, the harmless lies that improve
life. By creating this religion, Bokonon
not only condones the telling of little white lies, he rejects the entire
concept that truth is good. He tears
down an idea that has been transcribed in our brains for years and years, a
belief that has been recited for generations.
Science is presented as the search
for truth and understanding. In Cat’s Cradle, scientists are not heroes
and science is not worthy of praise.
Think of the products of Dr. Hoenikker’s years in the lab. He created
the atomic bomb and ice-nine. Certainly
Dr. Hoenikker discovered truth in the possibility that these things could in
fact exist, but I doubt anybody would argue that the atomic bomb and ice-nine
were good inventions. No, certainly these discoveries were bad. Very bad. Like,
potential-to-destroy-every-living-thing-on-the-planet bad.
So from now on, I am going to
question the benefits of the truths I tell (just as I have always considered
the consequences of my lies). Will this
true statement benefit me? You? The world? Or is it better to embrace the foma, those harmless lies that were
always forbidden, but now seem so much less destructive?
I would say that at least Dr.Hoenikker's daughter greatly respected and praised the work of her father. She even stopped Newt from saying anything demeaning of their father. Also can you not say that the atomic bombs creation being a good or bad thing falls into perspective? Its use ultimately caused a lot of destruction but it also saved many lives of American soldiers that would ultimately have had to fight more if not for the bomb. Ice nine was also supposed to be used by soldiers in the mud so these inventions both have to do with perspective and how they are used in the first place. Something that would support your argument of questioning the benefits of the truth is the role of religion in life. Religion answers questions in life and whether it is true or not depends on the person you ask. And as you already mentioned the religion of Bokonon though it was a lie to people outside of San Lorenzo the people who did live their were happy thanks to their religion. Your last paragraph also presents many valid points to think about.
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