Comparing Vonnegut's Mona, Newt, And Julian Castle

Often people travel through life meeting others who help them understand the complex idea of life. This encounter between the people is random, surprising, and usually a result of their karass. A karass is a Bokonist term meaning a group of people who unknowingly play an important role in doing gods will. Mona, Newt, and Julian Castle are all part of John’s karass, and help him understand the many facets of life. Newt teaches John that life is an illusion, and is meaningless through his example of a cat’s cradle and unfortunate love life. Julian Castle teaches John pragmatism through his patient care and interpretation of life. Mona teaches John that love is necessary to be happy, and that complexity causes destruction. In Kurt Vonnegut's novel
John is in love with Mona as soon as he sees her, before the two even meet. After meeting each other Mona is able to teach John the meaning of Bokonism; love one’s fellow man. Bokonon suggests that an example of showing ones love is bokamaru, the touching of the soles of feet while exchanging "souls" and Mona practices this with many people. John wants to marry Mona, but the one condition he has is that Mona only loves him. Mona opposes this condition, telling John that only loving one person is the most selfish thing anyone can do, stating "A sin-wat, a man who wants all of somebody's love. That's very bad." (Vonnegut 208). John also understands life’s simplicity through Mona’s simple understanding of life. John sees this during Mona’s last moments alive. When she and John discover the mass suicides, Mona laughs, finding simple humor during a humorless situation. Through this, John realizes that the suicides are happening because man has to make life complicated instead of just listening to himself. Mona listens to herself, her true beliefs, which allow her to live a simple, carefree life. John learns from Mona that man’s complexity is the cause of destruction, and that man’s inability to love one another is also a cause of destruction of happiness in the world. Julian Castle, along with Mona, expresses to John that one needs to look at life simply, and should not make life more complicated
When John, Newt, and Castle are sitting listening to Angela play the clarinet, John states “My God - life! Who can understand even one little minute of it?" (Vonnegut 182), and Castle tells John "Don't try, just pretend you understand." (Vonnegut 182). Essentially, Castle is telling John that whatever you want to believe, whatever version of life works for you, is the best approach at life. Also, the way Castle cares for his patients at the hospital further demonstrates Castle’s understanding of life. Castle knows that many do not approve of the way he cares for his patients, making them feel at ease even if they are going to die, and making their last moments comfortable. Despite all of this, Castle knows that the way he treats his patients works for him, so he continues to treat his patients with compassion. Realizing this, John is indeed taught by Castle that the best approach to life is a pragmatic