How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Anyway," said Angela, "when we got back home, we found him in the chair." She shook her head. "I don't think he suffered any. He just looked asleep. He couldn't have looked like that if there'd been the least bit of pain." (52.17)
Here's a pretty good example of Cat's Cradle showing the benefit of the lie. Hoenikker died, and, let's face it, death probably wasn't the greatest of experiences. But Angela tells herself the lie that he didn't suffer. Is it truth? Who knows; who cares? It makes her feel better.
Quote #8
"No damn cat, and no damn cradle." (74.30)
And here is Cat's Cradle's ultimate rendition of the truth. It's all just empty nothingness in the end. Wow, for a comedy, things can get kind of depressing in these pages.
Quote #9
"What do you think of it?" I asked him.
"It's black. What is it—hell?"
"It means whatever it means," said Newt.
"Then it's hell," snarled Castle. (76.2-5)
The connection between the truth and art? Nil. Art has no "truth" to it. It "means whatever it means," so feel free to plug in your own truth.