Cat's cradle is a masterpiece novel from Kurt Vonnegut, published in 1963, on the theme of science and its power of doom placed in the hands of a humanity with aspirations but inability for wisdom and brotherliness. In contraposition of these frustrated yearnings, one finds the theme of religion, in the form of Bokononism, a purified version of everything spiritual and theological. To articulate it, Vonnegut invents new concepts that go with their new terminology, such as Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons. They clarify instantly what is universal in Human's quest for the divine, for universal truth, justice and beauty. They also explain how a pile of dogma with unclear or even contradictory meaning, can in fact be fragments of a greater purpose. The novel ends with the doom of humanity.
This is as good as, not only Vonnegut, but literature can get. This deserved a Nobel prize, for providing the essence of the Author's style, in itself quite unique, and whimsical but tortured humanism. It consists of 127 short chapters relating the cosmic relationship between the protagonist and various actors connected to the invention and use of the nuclear bomb. Chapter 99, DYOT MEET MAT, on the last rites of the Bokonon religion, is a universe of revelations in itself, that rehabilitates, reconciles, even, the two main themes: science and religion.
The central character, already dead as the events unfold, is Felix Hoenikker, a genius scientist with no capacity or even interest in human affairs. He is only interested in pure thoughts, solving problems and understanding nature. He created not only the nuclear bomb but also Ice Nine, a seed able to transform water into ice at room temperature. His estranged three children are those who accompany the narrator, whose initial quest was to write a book titled "The Day the World Ended", relating the life of people on the day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. As typical of Vonnegut, this actual—in itself very interesting endeavour—is transcended into something of much greater proportion.
As is characteristic of Vonnegut, it looks like the events are random and that the story unfolds as it is written, with no clear direction, only to reveal as the climax approaches that every little detail is connected to a deeper meaning, of intricate logic and consistency.
The title of the book comes from the occupation of Hoenikker himself on the day the world ended. He was playing Cat's cradle, and terrified his son Newt as a result, in one of their rare interaction. Humanity surfaces in the cold genius like vegetation from underneath concrete: «‘See? See? See?’ he asked. ‘Cat’s cradle. See the cat’s cradle? See where the nice pussycat sleeps? Meow. Meow.’» This gets balanced later on as the son, now older, and a painter, makes a drawing of the Cat's cradle. Commenting on his rendering, he remarks: «A cat’s cradle is nothing but a bunch of X’s between somebody’s hands, and little kids look and look and look at all those X’s ...”» The narrator doesn't follow: «And?».
“No damn cat, and no damn cradle.”
The most interesting aspect of the book is the Bokonon religion. It comes in the form of the Books of Bokonon, which collect the wisdom of his religion in the form of calypso music. The book is continuously written by Bokonon, who is encountered only in the final chapter, with the final verse advising the protagonist to commit suicide in an ultimate act of forgiving defiance to You Know Who.
Cat's cradle is Vonnegut's revelation to the rest of us that our salvation is to be found neither in science nor in religion, but in what unites them as their source and reason to be: humanity.