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Chapter 116
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
With the tornadoes travelling menacingly overhead, the people flee in different directions. Crosby and Hazel cry out “American! American!” towards the tornadoes.
The Crosbys’ absurd cry, as if tornadoes recognize national identity, demonstrates how much they depend upon their status as Americans.
Themes
John and Mona take shelter in one of “Papa” Monzano’s other rooms, the wall and the roof now gone. John opens the manhole cover of the oubliette, and the two of them take shelter. The room has a tank of water, a chemical toilet, cases of food and alcohol, and a set of The Books of Bokonon. John opens a can of chicken soup.
John and Mona enter into survival mode. They are effectively in a bunker, which notably contains religious books and alcohol along with more vital supplies. This suggests human reliance on items that dull the anxiety and pain of mere existence.
Themes
