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Chapter 87
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
Frank says that he feels that “maturity” means knowing your limitations, and that he is too limited to be the new leader. John, from the present-day, explains that Bokonon calls maturity “a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.” Frank says he isn’t good at facing the public.
In reality, Frank doesn’t want the responsibility of being leader—like his father, he doesn’t want to be held accountable for his actions and would rather exist in a space free of judgment. Bokonon’s quote expresses the absurdist idea that there comes a time in an individual’s life when they come to see its meaninglessness.
Themes
