Throughout Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut often comments on the stupidity of man. When the narrator is at the research lab with Dr. Breed, he describes an unpleasant woman who “hated people who thought too much.” The narrator comments that “she struck [him] as an appropriate representative for all mankind.” (p. 33) During his speech, Ambassador Minton declares that “the stupidity and viciousness of all mankind” is what killed the “Hundred Martyrs to Democracy.” (p. 256) At the end of the novel, Bokonon references a desire to write “a history of human stupidity” (p. 287).
We have talked in class and on the blog about how science has brought about the means for the end of the world and how in the book Vonnegut does actually have it bring about the end of the world. However, was it entirely science’s fault that the world ended? Sure science allowed for the creation of “ice-nine,” but it took a whole load of stupidity for the ice to actually reach the water. Felix Hoenikker was stupid enough to keep it and leave it out in his kitchen. The Hoenikker children were stupid enough to keep it and then give it away for petty reasons. “Papa” Monzano stupidly abused it. The narrator and the Hoenikkers left it exposed instead of destroying it immediately. The silly, unnecessary air show ended with a plane flying into the cliff, which is what finally dropped the “ice-nine” into the water and caused an apocalypse.
It is true that spending all your time searching for the truth can be dangerous, but science only provides the means for destruction. I think Cat’s Cradle shows that the emotional side of humanity is what causes the actual misuse of science, using science to satisfy personal desires while ignoring the consequences.
We tend to think that advances in science mean that humanity as a whole is getting smarter, but is it really?
Human stupidity does seem to be a theme of Cat's Cradle as well. Science has the ability to provide wonders to civilization, but it also has the power to destroy it. However, science is merely the tool of men to create and destroy. As humanity believes in its power to continue to thrive and to understand everything around it, this arrogance and stupidity threatens our lives.
ReplyDeleteThe characters of Cat's Cradle all seem to emphasize human irresponsibility, recklessness, and ignorance (stupidity in short if the flaws aren't amended).
ReplyDeleteThe Hoenikker children used ice-nine for personal profit (not financially but for emotional gain). To us, the readers, Newt trading ice-nine for a weekend of sex and "love" may be petty, but for him, that might have been a brief escape from reality where he could have felt temporarily felt "normal" and unhindered by his height. If Newt had the hindsight, would he have still done it?
I think yes.
The Hoenikker children are particularly guilty of being ignorant in addition to irresponsible. They take after their father in the sense that they rather not deal with the repercussions of their actions. Frank resembles his father the most in this aspect. Both Frank and Felix choose to explore the realm of science and consciously forfeit positions of power so that they do not have to feel the weight of any wrongs that may result from their actions.
There are always consequences.
Ice-nine alludes to the destructive forces of science (reference: atomic bomb, which the novel did mention). But take the bomb--- if it hadn't been dropped to make the statement that the U.S. was THE world power, then today, we wouldn't have the fears of a nuclear war.
But critiquing how "stupid" the mistakes others doesn't make a difference; we all need to be responsible individuals so that the following generations do no suffer from our ignorance (I am aware this is the same argument used when discussing global warming).