Cats Cradle
Technology has come a long way during the 19th century, and has impacted the lives of every single person on earth. Most of our technological advances have been positive and have helped in developing our society as we know it today. However, technological progress also has downfalls. Things have been created in recent years that could ultimately destroy all of mankind. This theme is discussed in two works, Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Dr. Strangelove which was produced by Stanley Kurbick. In the novel Cat's Cradle, the world could have been destroyed by a substance called ice - nine. In the movie Dr. Strangelove, the world is ended by the Doomsday Machine. Both of these things were created by man, as technology progresses. Both of these works try to show what can happen if such things as ice - nine and the Doomsday Machine are placed into the hands of someone who does not understand how much damage they can actually do, and how powerful these creations are. This conc!ept is best explained by Vonnegut. He said in Cat's Cradle. What hope can there be for mankind.. when there are such men as Felix Hoenikker to give playthings as ice - nine to such short - sighted children as almost all men and women are. If destructi
eir enormous powers. They were used carelessly, and in the end, they became unnecessarily destructive. The nuclear missiles and the Doomsday machine became similar to plaything as did ice - nine. In Cat's Cradle, Hoenikker's sons found it difficult to keep the wonders of ice nine a secret. This was also true in the film Dr. Strangelove. Most people were not able to keep the Doomsday machine a secret either. The whole point of the Doomsday Machine is lost if its kept a secret. If nobody knew about the Doomsday Machine, than nobody would feel threatened by it, and therefor, in a sense it becomes useless. As time progresses, mankind becomes more and more sophisticated. The technological universe is expanding as we speak. Each day researchers work to find cures for things like cancer and AIDS. However, each day researchers also work on things that could eventually end up killing us all. The atomic bomb has all ready been created, and unfortunately used. The effects of this were d! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ evastating. It is quite possible that in the near future, another bomb may be used, this time the effects might be even more drastic. There is no way of telling what these things that we have created ourselves might someday do. It will only take a short amount of time for something like a nuclear weapon, or maybe worse, to slip into the hands of someone who does not fully understand the consequences of their actions. It will not take long for the entire world to be destroyed by a singe mishap. This happened with the Doomsday Machine in the film Dr. S
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1084
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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