Catch 22 Essay Research Paper Catch22Satire is

Catch 22 Essay, Research Paper

Catch-22

Satire is often used by writers to express their discontent towards a subject in a humorous way. Joseph Heller’s novel, Catch-22, satirizes war and its implications on society and man himself. Heller reveals the dehumanizing aspect of war, not the glory of it. He makes a social comment on the corruptive, self-fulfilling, irrational side of war that is often disregarded or dismissed. As he sheds light upon the darker part of war the universal qualities of mankind are revealed. In the novel Catch-22, the universal qualities of failure, corruption and irrationality are expressed in a satirical manner.

The protagonist Yossarian is an antihero as he is unsuccessful in changing his situation. Yossarian is a lead bombardier pilot in World War II and becomes consumed with the fact that people he has not even met keep trying to kill him. He is convinced to “remain alive forever or die in the attempt” (Heller, 89). The more combat missions Yossarian flies the more intense his struggle with life becomes. Yossarian is constantly frustrated with his situation. One of his frustrations is the small crawlway leading out of the plane used in the event of an emergency. He believes “it is an obstacle put there by providence as part of the plot that would destroy him” (Heller, 57). Also during one of Yossarian’s flight he goes over the treacherous city Bologna against his will, but fulfilling the mission requirements. Suddenly black smoke is seen surrounding the plane and at any moment the plane could explode. Yossarian knew there was “nothing he could do but sit there like an idiot and watch the ugly black puffs smashing up to kill him” (Heller, 156). Yossarian is considered an antihero due to his lack of intelligence at improving his situation. Furthermore, his profound fear of dying in action clutters his mind and any room for quick, decisive, critical thought becomes lost. His theory that the entire world is plotting a conspiracy to kill him is a disillusioned one. Although, Yossarian fails to realize that “there was too many dangers for Yossarian to keep track of. There was Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo for example, and they were all out to kill him” (Heller, 181). The only plan Yossarian conjures up is to pretend he has a liver condition allowing him temporary absences from his duties as a bombardier. He then gets admitted into the hospital and then, ironically, watches other soldiers and lieutenants wounded in combat and die. “Yossarian ran right into the hospital, determined to remain there forever rather than fly one mission more” (Heller, 175). Yossarian is a soldier lost in a world plotting for his annihilation. His inability to fight life for his life and lack of adequate planning deems him a failure.

Milo Minderbinder, an avid entrepreneur in charge of running the syndicate alludes to the corruptive, materialistic tendencies mankind possesses. At the young age of twenty-seven Milo has accomplished every stockbroker’s dream on Wallstreet, wealth and power are at his fingertips. His syndicate has expanded globally at an exponential rate increasing trade routes and net profits. Due to such prosperity and fame, Milo becomes greatly loved; he is awarded the “Assistant Governor-General” (Heller, 247) in Malta and his name engraved on a lustrous gold plaque. It read “Major Sir Milo Minderbinder” (Heller, 247). He is also the “Caliph of Baghdad, the Imam of Damascus, and the Shiek of Araby” (Heller, 248). Everywhere he goes, he is placed on a pedestal and treated like a God. The secret behind M and M enterprises` immense success is its policy. The syndicate benefits and makes profits; therefore, everyone benefits which is ideally similar to democracy. All the people within a nation is what the government is comprised of and each member has a voice. It sounds beautiful. When Milo boasts about his perfect syndicate saying, “the syndicate benefits when I benefit, because everybody has a share” (Heller, 242), how could anyone possibly see anything negative. Milo’s intentions are good in that his marketing strategies are used to benefit every shareholder in the syndicate yet, the idea of business expansion and soaring profits drive Milo to the brink of stupidity and his plans go sour. Eventually, “business boomed on every battlefront” (Heller, 263). Milo does business with both the Americans and the Germans.

“Milo contracted with the American military authorities to bomb the German-held highway bridge at Orvieto and with the German military authorities to defend the highway bridge at Orvieto with anti-aircraft fire against his own attack” (Heller, 265)

Milo emphasized the fact that profits greatly rose and it did not matter whether hundreds of people died or which side won since it represented an important victory for private enterprise. This reflects the values of many prestigious corporate owners who will take any measures necessary to enhance profits and take out the competition. At this point Milo realized “a fantastic profit from both halves of his project” (Heller, 265). He then made another contract with the Germans, but this time to bomb his own squadron. The true horror and devastation of Milo alleged business venture become apparent.

” A cluster of fragmentation bombs exploded in the yard in the officers club and punched jagged holes in the side of the wooden building and in the bellies and backs of