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Chapter 12
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 next day, a hungover John gets a ride with Dr. Breed to the research lab. Dr. Breed explains that the lab site is where they used to carry out public hangings of criminals. One man, in 1782, was hanged for killing 26 people, and expressed no remorse at all. Dr. Breed expresses disbelief that the man’s lack of penitence.
Dr. Breed’s comment on the hanged man is deeply ironic, given he sees nothing worthy of remorse in having been involved with the development of the atomic bomb. Responsibility in the novel floats around untethered, never settling.
Themes
