Stephanie Schulz ENGL 476 Journal Entry 5/23/11 Kurt Vonneguts Cats Cradle exhibits many of the apocalyptic

ideas presented in the excerpts from Teresa Heffernans Post-Apocalyptic Culture. It doesnt fall completely on either end of the apocalyptic spectrum, so I will discuss which characteristics from each extreme can be found in Cats Cradle. It is easiest to interpret Cats Cradle as a postmodern apocalyptic novel using Paul de Manns definition, as discussed by Heffernan. The postmodern apocalyptic narrative is fluid, open-ended, polyphonic, inconclusive, self-referential, and has endless possibilities. Most of these characteristics are displayed in Cats Cradle. The narration is fluid, organized into short chapters that flow easily from one to the next. It can be considered open-ended because the book just kind of stops, making the novel inconclusive as well. The book is definitely self-referential. Jonah starts his story by acknowledging that it is a book. He discusses the process of writing the novel, as well. As narrator, he is always self-aware. Though the story doesnt end with many possibilities (the survivors are just existing as best they can), the story up until that point goes through many possible courses. Everything that happens to Jonah seems to happen by chance. He somehow ends up in San Lorenzo, the release of ice-nine is accidental, and he meets important people randomly. In all these ways, Cats Cradle can be interpreted as a postmodern apocalyptic narrative.

Cats Cradle also displays a few of Frank Kermodes characteristics of a pre-postmodern apocalyptic narrative, as discussed by Heffernan. This type of apocalyptic novel is more comfortable and optimistic. The characteristics include resolution, revelation, renovation, closure, a better future, faith in higher order, and an unveiling of something. Not all of these characteristics are found in Cats Cradle, but a few are. Though the end of the book sort of abandons the reader, most plot conflicts have been resolved. Also, Jonah sort of expresses faith in a higher order through Bokononism. Though the novel mocks Christianity and organized religion in general, Jonah always talks about God and how things work out as they were meant to. Though the religion is based on lies, the characters still practice it until the end. On the spectrum of apocalyptic narratives, Cats Cradle falls much closer to the postmodern end. It displays most of the characteristics, only clinging to a few earlier apocalyptic ideologies.