The Republic of San Lorenzo: Political Satire according to Kurt Vonnegut

Abstract

This bachelor thesis analyzes the satirical themes and the use of apocalyptic and dystopian motifs in the book Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. The first chapter is devoted to presenting relevant literary terminology, while the second focuses on the historical and cultural context of the contemporary United States. The third chapter deals with the book itself, the ideas behind it and its literary features. Also, it concentrates on the narrator as the central apocalyptic element. The last chapter examines selected targets of Vonnegut's satire, especially scientific progress, the deceitful nature of religions and the role of the family within society.