Abstract
To understand the point of the humor in "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut, it is necessary to examine the point of the story itself. All of Vonnegut's books touch on broad social issues in a rather cartoonish way that serves a much darker and difficult purpose than what they appear to address. Like Breakfast of Champions, and Hocus Pocus, Cat's Cradle, is a humorous take on the organizations and social structures that the world holds as absolutes with the angle that such things do not exist - all is arbitrary. In this work, we find that there is a brilliant combination of lampoon (in the form of the polarized roles taken by the two friends who created the island nation dictatorial politics and religion, Bokononism; which are intended to oversimplify the arbitrariness of politics and religion) and of black humor (which is clearly marked in the violence, deprivation, and oppression that are used only to perpetrate the lie that is the society). Irony, perhaps, is the constant of every event and passage in this book. It is irony that makes us understand that the humor in the story is a rather caustic, disbelieving, and disenchanting look at our own and every other society.

Abstract
This paper examines the novel, "Cat's Cradle", by Kurt Vonnegut, written at the height of the Cold War when most Americans lived in fear of a fiery nuclear apocalypse. Vonnegut presents a different but equally terrifying end, a world encased in ice. It discusses how one of the novel's themes is how human irresponsibility can contribute to this icy end. It examines how Vonnegut uses the major and minor characters in "Cat's Cradle" to reflect on the consequences of human irresponsibility and how, throughout the novel, Vonnegut presents characters whose irresponsibility helps bring much of life on earth to an end.

From the Paper
"Despite his small stature, Newt is the most mature and well adjusted of the Hoenikker children. Still, Newt remains focused on the major disappointments of his childhood. The fact that he found neither cat nor cradle in the tangle of strings presented by his father causes Newt to believe in the lack of meaning in all human life. He thus becomes an easy target for the Russian spy Zinka, who pretends to love him in order to get to his share of the ice-nine. At the apocalypse, Newt remains unwilling to confront the horrors of the icy apocalypse that he helped to usher. Instead, he focuses on scavenging for paint, and on turning inward and coping through his art."

Tags:felix, hoenikker, ice, john, angela, world

Abstract
This paper discusses "Cat's Cradle," as a comedy about the sacred and profane, portraying science as a kind of religion. The paper discusses the religion, Bokonism, in the novel, which uses lies to provide meaning to human life. The paper also discusses the parallels that Vonnegut draws between the novel and the Book of Jonah. In addition, he paper looks at how the novel deals with the dangers presented by science. Lastly, the paper explores the theme of the necessity to balance science with morality and ethics.

From the Paper
"Cat's Cradle is a comedy about the sacred and the profane. It is also a treatise on the importance of writing to the depiction of the apocalyptic. Within this novel, Vonnegut places an artist and a scientist in a battle of the post-modern age. Using the novel as a tool, Vonnegut depicts both catastrophe and apocalypse in a format that allows him to develop a commentary on the importance of both art and science to society, placing a relative value on each of the types of human beings whose career path leads them to those outcomes. What Vonnegut creates is an image of science, and the scientist, as harmful to society, while the artist is noble in his constant trek towards the truth."

Tags:religion science novel literature, kurt vonnegut, morality bokonism

Abstract
This paper explains that, in the book "Cradle of Violence", Murray Strauss exposes child abuse in the home, which is evident in society today. The author points out that Strauss suggests that children who are abused by family members have a higher probability of becoming violent offenders and abusers themselves. The paper relates statistical research supports his arguments.

From the Paper
"Watching the news on television provides a glimpse into contemporary local and world affairs. It has become apparent that regardless of the time of day reports on violent crimes can be found when flipping from station to station. For some viewers the images are just part of every day life when glued to the tube, playing video games, surfing the net, and/or watching home movies. For others, it is a constant reminder of how dysfunctional and abusive some people really are."

Tags:child, violence, abuse

Abstract
This paper expounds on the main theme in "Cat's Cradle" that life is meaningless. The paper discusses Vonnegut's use of images, irony, and eccentric characters to express his theme about the meaningless of life. It also explains how Vonnegut relates this theme to religion, marriage, and almost everything else humans teach each other.

From the Paper
"Clearly, Vonnegut is depicting a side of human nature that cannot deal with the truth, so it is fed and willingly believes the lies it is told by the "religion." In fact, "Truth was the enemy of the people, because the truth was so terrible, so Bokonon made it his business to provide the people with better and better lies" (172). In addition, to create more "zest" and "tang" within the lives of the people, Bokonon decides to have himself declared an outlaw. He emphasizes his belief that "A really good religion is a form of treason" (173). The legend of a holy man in the jungle and the tyrant in the city was the only thing that made the people happy. (174) Perhaps the most striking example of this theme is the last scene of the book in which Bokonon writes in the final sentence of his book that if he were a younger man, he would "make a statue of himself, lying on my back, grinning horribly, and thumbing my nose at You Know Who" (287). Again, we are shown Vonnegut's opinion regarding the power of religion. Through the willingness of the people to accept Bokonon, Vonnegut is asking us to search our own lives for such blind faith."

Tags:nature, society, culture, mankind, newt, humanit, book, of, bokonon, foma, lies, julian, castle

Abstract
This essay discusses the use of imagery, i.e., the use of words to represent things or ideas by sensory description, and theme in "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking." The main theme of the poem is the concept of unification, division, and re-integration of the physical and the spiritual, as well as of the psyches of human beings.This theme is explored at length in the context of the poem.

From the Paper
"Walt Whitman first published his poem "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" under the title "A Word Out of the Sea" in the 1860 edition of his collection Leaves of Grass. It was re-published under its current title in 1871.

"Whitman (1819-92) was one of the first distinctly "American" poets, and his work often revolved around themes of equality, democracy and freedom. In his lifetime, slavery saw its heyday and experienced its abolishment. At the same time, Whitman witnessed a new America emerging, an America which included the frontier West and industrialization."

Tags:homoeroticism, sexuality, physical, spiritual, sensory, theme, integration, mockingbird, sorrow, grief

Abstract
This paper discusses the promising future for the Republic of Iraq. It explains that the newly constituted democratic Iraq may currently be in a state of turmoil, but has a promising future thanks to its valiant citizens and beautiful culture. The paper looks at the geographic beauty of Iraq, as well as its history. The paper then looks at the social and cultural differences throughout Iraq and points out that there is proof that Iraq is a stabilizing country, noting the U.N. report that violence has declined from the summer of 2007 and that the Iraqi Government claims that so far 46,000 refugees have returned to their homes safely. The writer believes that one day the nation of Iraq will come back to normality and its people will lead ordinary lives and the world will truly appreciate America and Iraq's sacrifice to make the world a better place.

From the Paper
"There have been five different designs for the Iraqi flag since its establishment in 1921. The current flag was created in 2008 and is just an interim flag. Apparently, the creation of a flag is not at the top of their concerns right now. The script at the center of the flag means is pronounced Allahu Akbar, which literally means "God is Great". The script is on a bar of white, with a red bar on top and a black bar below ("Iraq"). Iraq's flag is similar to that of Syria's, Yemen's and Egypt's ("The World Fact Book: Iraq")."

Tags:culf, war, saddam, Hussein, culture, Baghdad

Abstract
This paper considers the role childhood attachment plays in adult romantic love. Current studies on the influence of childhood attachment styles on adult attachment are reviewed and both contextual and cultural issues are discussed. It shows how findings suggest that there is a continuity of attachment style from infancy to adulthood, although adult attachment styles can be influenced by a number of factors.

From the Paper
"A work that "revolutionized the study of adult romantic love" (Ridge and Feeney 1998 p848) was Hazan and Shavers (1987) study. This research was based on Bowlby's work and set out to examine the possibility that affectional bonds between adults are formed much the same way as those that bond human infants and their parents. They explore the notion that three major attachment styles in adults are based on Ainsworths mental models of self and social life mentioned above which are determined in infancy in part by relationships with parents. Therefore, they say a person's attachment style is set in childhood and that adult loving relationships vary according to the attachment histories of those involved. (Hazan & Shaver, p511)."

Tags:ainsworth, bowlby, romantic, love

Abstract
This book review is a discussion of the Hijazi culture and identity within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one whose urban and cosmopolitan customs, rituals and religious ceremonies and beliefs are in opposition to those of the Najd-Saudi school of Wahhabism. In Mai Yamani's account of her 'hidden' Hijaz culture, we see how the Hijazi retain their culture and identity in the midst of a suppressive environment.

From the Paper
"Mai Yamani of Hijazi identity and a Saudi scholar provides an account of the schism within Saudi Arabian society between the Wahhabism promoted by the Saudi royal family and the Hijazi identity promoted in secret among members who ..."

Tags:dynasty, ?awa?il, oil, elites, ceremony, Sufi, Shia?, ?ashura, Allah, dress codes, women

Abstract
In this paper, a book report relates the aspects of environmentally conscious ideas about waste and recycling within the 21st century in 'Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things' by William McDonough. The writer discusses that through re-usability and new techniques in recycling, modern industry must reform markets and production methods to help create a far more reusable standard for products to help preserve the ecology of the Earth.

From the Paper
"This book report presents the various environmental and ecological issues that arise in Cradle to Cradle By William McDonough. By examining the main theme of `waste-less' industry in McDonough's book, one can realize the importance of recycling in the manufacturing process. By re-evaluating the "new industrial revolution" that is bound within this book, McDonough makes a compelling case for a new approach to waste and recycling in the 21st century. The integration of environmentally cooperative production in the new millennium is the scope of McDonough's book, as it proclaims a new approach to industry and ecology."

Tags:mcdonough, cradle, nature