Cats: The Dehumanization Of Cats

Everyone has heard the expression "curiosity killed the cat." That is to say, the search for new wisdom can often have unpleasant consequences; a child curious about the kitchen stove is bound to get burned. This is exactly what Kurt Vonnegut demonstrates in Cat's Cradle with the example of ice-nine, which is developed by the fictional creator of the atom bomb, Felix Hoenikker. It is symbolic of the atom bomb in that it has the power to end human life. Hoenikker is obviously an exceedingly smart man; however, it can be inferred from his inventions that he does not always consider the negative consequences of his new discoveries. He is merely on a quest for further knowledge, not a quest to better our society. The game of cat's cradle,

The poem entitled “Curiosity” written by Alastair Reid is a symbolic poem that uses cats as a metaphor for humans. It relates felines to people in the sense of curiosity, and what could be considered actually living life to the fullest. Essentially, this work contradicts the popular phrase, “curiosity killed the cat” by placing it within a broader context. Instead of discouraging curiosity, Reid explains why people should embrace it.

It is no secret that homelessness is quickly becoming an epidemic in the United States, but the homeless population is not one secular demographic. For every person in the US living on the street, there is a unique story of how they got there; nonetheless, that is not to say that many of these stories are without some commonalities. Along with homelessness, there is another issue plaguing American cities, but this issue is much more covert, and exists under a guise of improvements like fancy apartments and trendy restaurants. Gentrification is defined as “the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste” (Erikson); but what that definition fails to mention is the discourse it has on the

Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut was written during the twentieth century, which was the height of industrialization and technological advancements. The common hope during this time was that science could transform the world. This novel illuminates the flaws in this kind of thinking, and by doing so, points out how our negligent use of nature's laws has created some of the greatest tragedies know to humankind.

Everyone has heard the expression "curiosity killed the cat." That is to say, the search for new wisdom can often have unpleasant consequences; a child curious about the kitchen stove is bound to get burned. This is exactly what Kurt Vonnegut demonstrates in Cat's Cradle with the example of ice-nine, which is developed by the fictional creator of the atom bomb, Felix Hoenikker. It is symbolic of the atom bomb in that it has the power to end human life. Hoenikker is obviously an exceedingly smart man; however, it can be inferred from his inventions that he does not always consider the negative consequences of his new discoveries. He is merely on a quest for further knowledge, not a quest to better our society. The game of cat's cradle,

“It got to be easy to look at New Yorkers as animals, especially looking down from some place like a balcony at Grand Central at the rush hour Friday afternoon.” (Tom Wolfe). “O Rotten Gotham” argues that New Yorkers are in a state of behavioral sink. It would not be long before a “population collapse” or a “massive die off”.

Everytime I step out of my apartment I have to be cautious of the trash. It's piled up over the years even in the cities. I walk the packed city streets littered with homeless people it's been this way for sometime now. They are starving on the streets the police have to monitor them to clean up any dead bodies on the sidewalks. It's almost never sunny here the city has been covered by a thick cloud of smog that seems as if it will never go away. The streets are also lined with huge skyscrapers built for the people the government forced to move here. I hate them they are all the same grey cookie cutter buildings no distinction between them. I’m coming home from the food warehouse people are given two meals a day for a month every month. We

I hear the cars before I see them. Their honks add even more chaos to the never silent city, as they interrupt each other like impatient children arguing over a toy. But I love the chaos of New York. It reminded me of Bangalore, my old home; it almost puts me to sleep for chaos was my lullaby eons ago. My nostalgia washes away though, once I’ve taken a peek at the skyline. Waves of awe engulf me, as i take in the soaring skyscrapers glittering in the sunlight, and the orangey-pink water of the New York Harbor in the evening. The World Trade Center memorial catches my eye as i take in the world. I’m filled with chilly sorrow as the memories of the 9/11 memorial we visited earlier that day return to me. But now is not the tie to be somber. I

Picture this, the wind is cold and all you can hear is the sound of trash blowing in the wind. The buildings scrap the edge of the sky and the light poles grant very little relief from the darkness. On one block the nightclubs are blasting, there is big bouncers checking ID’s deciding who gets the official stamp of approval. There is no freestanding businesses, and everything is so shoved, it’s like trying to fit into an pair of jeans you could wear ten years earlier. There is people lining the streets, the sidewalks barely have room to peer through. Every inch you move forward you continue to see them holding up their cardboard signs. Kids don’t go out alone here, there are women dressing every corner in a ten-block radius.

My associates and I lived in one expanse where we could simply saunter to each other’s house. Malls, theaters, and restaurants encircled us; everything was neighboring each other. Traveling from one place to another was easy because of the short distances and different means of transportation such as riding metropolitan trains or walking. Although the city had its advantages, it also had its detriments to people’s lives; the city was a precarious place! Living in the city, I was relentlessly hearing about deaths and delinquencies. Growing up in the city, I was petrified for my family and uncertain about their welfare.

The year was 2024 and Chicago was deteriorating. It was a poverty-stricken city with a high crime rate. Racketeering and drug dealing were common. The city looked like something straight out of a dystopian blockbuster, with the small number of high-rises still holding the millionaires and billionaires, but below them the withering city that Chicago was, slumped. The streets were littered with newspaper fragments and empty soda cans. It was a terrible day for a walk, but I had gone anyways to pick up dinner. I walked quietly down the street below an abandoned L track, avoiding the garbage and pigeons circling at my feet. The city was strangely noisy and there were more people than usual lingering in the alleyways and businessmen

This city is unlike any other. It bleeds privilege and a cold empathy one would detect in a doctor’s office. When the world topples sideways and destroyed itself, the richest of the country gathered together to rebuild something. They gifted themselves with paved streets and flashy clothes. Their fears of drinking unclean water, or not being able to eat became foreign. No longer did they allow themselves to suffer alongside the rest of us, nor did they attempt to help.

As I miserably stumbled outside, I realized how hostile the city environment can truly be. Frankly, it was my fault that I was forced off the bus. If I waited a bit longer I would be able to vomit in one, of several, garbage receptacles – located all around the city block. I always felt sick while using public transportation. My father attributed this to problems with my “vestibular apparatus.” I, however, believed – and still believe – that the urban atmosphere makes me feel nauseated. There is a certain aura of ignorance that always comes to mind, whenever I consider the urban life. I hated the urban life with all its aspects, and I still dislike it today. In all honesty, I hate the public transportation, even though it is an unavoidable attribute to the city life. Furthermore, I dislike the chaotic atmosphere, the closeness of homes, and the density of city-dwellers. And utmost prominently, I look with abhorrence at social inequality that manifests itself within the walls of a city. As a matter of fact, the smell of perfume intermixed with a smell of sweat, spoiled seafood, and vehicles’ exhaust – is my initial thought of an urban life, which forces all my senses into submission and makes me feel helpless, tired,

Many writers are wondering whether the increased scale and proportion of the cities are exceeding human capabil- ities to live under conditions of security and mutual sup- port and concern. Some feel the sheer scale of urban life is forcing individual identity to yield to anonymity, indifference, and narrow self-interest. Commentaries on the growing fear, powerlessness, and anger of urban resi- dents are numerous. Yet, even against the backdrop of serious social, economic, and political urban challenges, other writers extol the many virtues of urban life. They note urban life offers residents a broader and more varied mix of intellectual and cultural stimulation, economic opportunity, and personal choice in pursuing various so- cial roles and relations and moral options--including seemingly endless options for money, opportunity, free- dom, excitement, diversity, intellectual stimulation, im- proved public utilities and services, transportation facili- ties, accessibility to health care services, and multicultur- alism. These too are part of the daily fare of urban life (Marsella, 1991).

There before me was a city not of my dreams but a city of every person’s nightmare. There in this secluded fortress were not civilised citizens but primitive living organisms. The scene of a perfect capital enriched with refined inhabitants had been shattered. Instead, reality crashed onto me; dead corpses laid along the streets, little children malnourished, women cries for help echoed across the city and worst of all the guards who were to protect its people stood by and watched with delight.