All the World is a Stage

A device which stands out in Cat’s Cradle is the emphasis on theatre as a metaphor for life. This idea was introduced to man long before Vonnegut’s time, but it is exemplified in the novel. At a certain moment in the text, this metaphor is explicitly defined. The quote reads “As the living legend of the cruel tyrant in the city and the gentle holy man in the jungle grew, so, too, did the happiness of the people grow. They were all employed as full time actors in a play they understood, that any human being anywhere could understand and applaud.” (p. 175)

 At this moment then, it is established that all San Lorenzans are in a drama company constantly portraying a battle between good (Bokonon) and evil (McCabe). Good v. evil is a theme as old in theatre as in literature. But if Bokonon and McCabe are the principle actors and the San Lorenzans are the ensemble, who is the director? Bokononists would say “God”. I would say “God” as well. The metaphor that is presented not only shows the insincerity of the lives of Bokonon and McCabe, it also promotes the ideas of Bokononism. God controls the play, God controls everything. People believe what they see, and, in San Lorenzo, they see a play that is the work of God.