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Chapter 56
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 explains that many people had taken over San Lorenzo in its history, and that the island was essentially “worthless.” Over the years, the island was conquered by various nations, including France, Spain, Denmark, England, and the Netherlands. When McCabe and Johnson arrived and initiated their take-over, Castle Sugar (the sugar company) made no attempt to stop them.
As part of his overall project of satire, Vonnegut inverts the typical colonial site by making San Lorenzo in essence quite undesirable. The different colonial powers are all keen to get rid of it. Usually, they’d be fighting to take control.
Themes
