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Chapter 54
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 looks at all the different index entries for Mona. From these, he learns that she grew up in the compound of the hospital, had a romance with Philip Castle, and was turned into a “national erotic symbol” by “Papa” Monzano. Bokonon was her tutor.
Mona is generally quite a flat character, mostly held up as an example of extreme beauty. But with the other characters acting so foolishly, perhaps there is a dignity behind her silence. “Papa’s” use of Mona as an erotic symbol for the nation suggests a cynical effort to find something to appease the islanders.
Themes
John talks about indexing with Claire, who used to do it professionally. She sees Philip Castle’s indexing as embarrassing and “self-indulgent.” She can tell from the index that Philip is in love with Mona, but that “he’ll never marry her.” Minton later whispers to John that this is because Claire can tell from the index that Philip is homosexual.
Claire’s index-based prophesy does turn out to be true in the sense that Mona is “destined” to marry the next ruler of San Lorenzo.
Themes
