Previous
Chapter 86
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
John talks about Frank, describing him as “pinch-faced child” who speaks “with the timbre and conviction of a kazoo.” Frank talks in clichés, such as “I like the cut of your jib!” They go down the waterfall steps and to talk in a cave behind the water, which has tables and bookshelves. The walls are adorned with paintings of “very early man,” all fixated on the subject of Mona.
Frank is trying to take on the vernacular of a leader, though all of his cliché phrases ring hollow and don’t seem to suit him. The cave paintings are a reminder that this is a story about the entirety of human history—not just the 20th century.
Themes
Frank tells John that “we need each other.” He explains that he has a job offer of sorts for John, which will pay him “a hundred thousand dollars a year.” Frank wants him to be the new president. John thinks this is a ridiculous idea.
This is, of course, a ridiculous idea: John has just arrived and has no depth of knowledge about the country.
Themes
