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Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Cat’s Cradle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Science and Morality
Religion
Governance, Politics, and Nationhood
Absurdity and Meaninglessness
Summary
Analysis
The night before his visit with Dr. Breed to Dr. Hoenikker’s old research laboratory, John gets drunk in a bar. The bartender and the woman sitting next to him both went to high school with Frank Hoenikker. The woman details how they used to call Frank “Secret Agent X-9,” because he never spoke to anyone.
Though Frank’s old nickname was just a joke reflecting his perceived isolation, it pre-empts his later role in the book as the facilitator of dangerous technology. “X-9” also verbally echoes “ice-nine,” hinting the link between that substance and Frank.
Themes
Literary Devices
