The Fulfillment of One’s Desire Does Not Lead to Happiness: A Central Paradox of 'Cat's Cradle' Samara Green 9th Grade

What do people really want, and how far would they be willing to go to get that something? Is it always worth it - to get what one most desires, but not to be happy? These are the very questions that Kurt Vonnegut explores in his satirical novel Cat’s Cradle. The author illustrates that the fulfillment of one’s desire does not necessarily create happiness, through the characters of John, the narrator of the story; Felix Hoenikker, the creator of the first atomic bomb; and Felix’s three children.

John is a perfect example of someone who has had his wishes granted but is still not satisfied. At the beginning of the novel, John fixates on one thing: finishing his book about the atomic bomb. However, as John acquires more information about Felix Hoenikker and the Hoenikker children’s lives, he abandons the project. Although John gathers all the information he needs, he becomes discontented with his writing and decides to abandon his project, nevertheless remaining entwined in the history of the family. Later, when John sees an ad for San Lorenzo in the paper, he is initially eager to visit but when he arrives, is unimpressed when he realizes that San Lorenzo is nothing more than a crumbling dictatorship. Finally, John loves Mona...