A Shot at Love

              In Cat’s Cradle, ice nine is not only Felix Hoenikker’s last gift to his children but also the cause of their deaths. A man who had the power to create an atomic bomb that killed thousands upon thousands of people gave his children a level of power that no one should ever have. And with that gift, Angela, Frank, and Newt Hoenikker buy with ice-nine what their father could never give them: love, power, and acceptance.

            What the Hoenikker children desire does not seem unreasonable. All they have ever wanted was a father who could relate to them and care for them like a father figure should. And even though they trade in ice nine so that they can feel valued, each Hoenikker eventually comes to the conclusion that neither affection nor admiration cannot be bought. Their impulsive decisions lead to the demise of many lives.

            However, even though the Hoenikkers possession of ice nine lead to the apocalypse, they are not inherently evil. While their decisions may not be the smartest, their decisions are made with the intent to be happy. They’re not unlike most inhabitants of San Lorenzo. Even without the ice nine, the Hoenikkers have always told themselves white lies to make themselves feel better about their lives. For example, Angela constantly told herself and her brothers that their father was an admirable and loving man even though in reality, Felix Hoenikker paid little attention to his 3 children. In this way, they are practicing Bokononists without even realizing it.

            While the Hoenikkers’ actions are fatal, I’d like to think that many more people would take advantage of ice nine if it were in their possession.  Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to be loved and accepted if those were things they had lacked their entire lives?