ll time as actors in a play they understood, that human being everywhere could enjoy and applaud” (144). So became Bokononism, one of the men taking charge of the government, and the other, Bokonon, retreating into the forest to preach his faith. After exploring the theory of Bokononism, and machinations of the men behind it, the reader is left wondering if Vonnegut is implying that democracy and our American ideals could be, perhaps, an elaborate hoax. Bokonon’s words: I wanted all things To seem to make more sense, So we all could be happy, yes Instead of tense. And I made up lies So that they would all fit nice And I made this sad world A par-a-dise (109) Upon his arrival at San Lorenzo, John is struck by the illusionary visage that the island projects. From his room in the luxurious “Casa Mona,” he is blessed with a view of the island’s one paved street, the harbor, the airport, and a multiplicity of well manicured lawns and hedges. However, “the squalor and misery of the city, being to the sides and back of the Casa Mona, were impossible to see” (131). This clouded sense of beauty projected by the hotel may be interpreted as yet another metaphor blasting the concept of nationality. Perhaps the bells and whistles decorating our freedom and independence are merely distracting us from the corruption and destruction being planned behind the scenes? Perhaps we really have no business calling ourselves “one nation under god”, as we are simply millions of people with millions of different interests? As John states: …a seeming team that [is] meaningless in terms of the ways God gets things done, a textbook example of what Bokonon calls a “granfallon.” Other examples of “granfallons” are the Communist party, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the General Electric Company, the International order of Odd Fellows-and any nation, any time, anywhere. (82) ...
