According to Bokononism, life is propelled by the interaction of both people and their histories to an eventual, predetermined end. Despite this perception of an interconnected and ongoing system, perhaps it is a fallacy to believe that events are anything other than separate occurrences. Furthermore, maybe even the connection of individuals is a lie- the idea of a karass is entirely based on the thought that human beings live interconnected lives, but, while our lives may be affected by those of the people around us, who is to say that we don’t remain independent of each other? I’ll admit that this theory seems hard to substantiate in a book full of suggestions of an overwhelmingly connected system.
One scene in which the idea that things are less interconnected than they might seem arises as Angela and Jonah interact on the plane. As Angela shows Jonah the photos of those she loves, he says that “she had trapped [them] like fossil beetles in amber.” (“Cat’s Cradle” 114) Though this comment may pass without seeming important, it is more meaningful when considered in the context of Vonnegut’s larger body of work. The comparison of human beings to bugs trapped in amber is not unique to Cat’s Cradle and more famously arises within Slaughterhouse- Five. One example of this is found as a Tralfamadorian says, “All time is all time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I've said before, bugs in amber.” (Slaughterhouse- Five 86) As Vonnegut uses the image of bugs in amber, he suggests that human beings live separate lives, contained within their own experiences, and that each of these experiences can be teased apart. Furthermore, it is only when a string of events is taken apart that meaning can be found within each moment. Finally, the image of bugs in amber within Slaughterhouse- Five clearly evokes the idea of fate; although meaning cannot be derived from all time, it is what must always occur, even without explanation. These ideas can also be applied to the game cat’s cradle, the apparent image of a system at work found within Cat’s Cradle. Although cat’s cradle is a systematic and two person game, meaning can be found only when it is looked at move by move, otherwise is is only an on going system, working without explanation. Furthermore, for the game to progress only each individual move matters- while the moves before must have been done properly, once a move has been made it becomes a part of that which has occurred; it’s irrelevant to how the game goes on. Additionally, even though cat’s cradle as a game depends on the input of at least a pair of people, they need not converse or truly interact to move the game forward- each participant needs only play his part and make his move for the system to continue. The application of fate to the game cat’s cradle is especially clear- for the game to continue, each move is inevitable.
While Bokononism hinges the interconnection of people and events, maybe this is simply another lie we tell ourselves to try and find comfort. In reality, these connections don’t exist- we each exist in our own spheres, not truly interacting, acting only as we must to keep playing.
Vonnegut, Kurt. Cat's Cradle. New York: Delta Trade Paperbacks, 1998. Print.
- - -. Slaughterhouse-five, Or, the Children's Crusade: A Duty-dance with Death. New York: Dell, 1991. Print.
Do we truly each exist in our own spheres if all of time has happened, will happen, is happening, what have you? Or does that entail that while you and me are both locked in amber, the whole universe is as well, and that we could be said to be all interconnected rather than separated by our parts in the "plan"? Maybe we cannot truly choose to form relationships, but we still do, and it seems, from the Tralfamadorian perspective, like we are all related to one another in the game of life.
ReplyDelete