Suitable Satire

              In the 1963 novel, Cat’s Cradle, by the veteran-turned-novelist, Kurt Vonnegut, the writer discusses issues such as religion, the meaning of life and politics through the eyes of the protagonist, John. Published in the midst of the Cold War, the book emphasizes John’s quest to discover more about the fictional, father of the atom bomb, Frank Hoenikker, and his family. The narrator’s research leads him to the small, poverty-stricken country of San Lorenzo where Vonnegut continues his sarcastic and satiric examination of society. As I have often received criticism for acting overly sarcastic, the novelist’s cunning tone, especially in regards to the Hundred Martyrs to Democracy, appeals to me. I believe Vonnegut’s satire holds a mirror up to humanity and his particular mockery of the Hundred Martyrs of Democracy illustrates his views on military enterprises and heroism. When John arrives on San Lorenzo with Newt and Angela Hoenikker, the President, “Papa” Monzano, informs the group that they arrived the day before San Lorenzo’s “greatest national holiday,” (142). While most people consider a religious holiday their most important, the adulating diction of “greatest” illustrates how much importance the Hundred Martyrs to Democracy Day has to the citizens of San Lorenzo. However, as Vonnegut reveals more about the holiday, this exaltation begins to hold situational irony. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, San Lorenzo sent a “hundred men” to the United States for training and “to fight… [for] democracy” (149). Before their arrival, the ship sunk and, since then, the country has celebrated their efforts on the anniversary of the martyrs’ deaths. By stating that San Lorenzo sent a “hundred men,” Vonnegut’s data exposes how little of an impact the untrained, unarmed, conscripted soldiers would have had in the scale of World War II. Moreover, the entire idea of San Lorenzo sending men to fight for democracy stands as ludicrous because the country only claims to have democratic values when truly it acts more like a dictatorship. Vonnegut slowly exposes the illegitimate roots of the “greatest national holiday” in order to utilize the illogical holiday as a synecdoche of the hope humans construct out of foolish events, alluding to the central idea of a cat’s cradle and its unreasonable meaning. The novelist’s ironic anecdote and satirical style exposes his critical views on military endeavors by pointing out the futility and inevitable wastefulness of military effort. Although I do believe war can prove necessary and constructive, I agree with Vonnegut in that many military efforts stand as unnecessary and counterproductive. I advise those offended by Vonnegut’s black humor to allow themselves to acknowledge their own faults and the faults of modern society as many of his convictions stand as true.