"Dr. Breed was mistaken about at least one thing: there was such thing as ice-nine. And ice-nine was on earth. Ice-nine was the last gift Felix Hoenikker created for mankind before going to his just reward. He did it without anyone's realizing what he was doing. He did it without leaving records of what he'd done" (Vonnegut 50).
This is one of the most important passages in Cat's Cradle. One of the central ideas of the book is Felix Hoenikker's creation of ice-nine. Dr Breed did not even think this creation was possible, let alone already existed. Without even realizing it, Dr. Breed was introducing Jonah to something that would soon be his fate. After this conversation with Dr. Breed, Jonah made it his goal to find ice-nine. This is the first time in the story that we receive information about what is to come later in the story.
"Next to "Papa's" portrait was a picture of a narrow-shouldered, fox-faced, immature young man. He wore a snow white military blouse with some sort of jeweled sunburst hanging on it. His eyes were close together; they had circles under them. He had apparently told barbers all his life to shave the sides and back of his head, but to leave the top of his hair alone. He had wiry pompadour, a sort of cube hair, mar-celled, that arose to an incredible height.
This unattractive child was identified as Major General Franklin Hoenikker, Minister of Science and Progress in the Republic of San Lorenzo" (80).
The passage above is another key part of Jonah's journey. After finding out about ice-nine from Dr. Breed, it became his mission to find out more about it. He soon learned that each of Felix's children had a supply of ice-nine, but Frank was no where to be found. One day while looking in the New York Sunday Times, Jonah came across an artical about San Lorenzo. Realizing that the man pictured was actually the person he was looking for all along set Jonah in motion again. This was a turning point in the story because it leads Jonah to travel to San Lorenzo, where he finds many more answers about the Hoenikker family and ice-nine.
"When I shuffled out, somewhat relieved, I was met by Dr. Schlichter von Koenigswald, who was bounding from "Papa's" bedroom. He had a wild look, and he took me by the arms and he cried, "What is it? What was it he had hanging around his neck?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"He took it! What ever was in that cylinder, 'Papa' took--and now he's dead" (235).
This part in the story is extremely significant because it is when the first person on earth died of ice-nine. "Papa's" death signified the beginning of the world as everyone knew it. After his death, the people of San Lorenzo were all at risk of dying the same way. This point in the story is important because it shows what can happen when one person gains control of something that can significantly change things. Ice-nine changed earth for good. This was the climax of Cat's Cradle; everything finally came together with Jonah's research with ice-nine.
