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Essay / Literary Analysis of Catch 22 by Joseph Steller
There are many works on the subject of World War II. Catch-22 by Joseph Steller, published in 1961, expressively describes this distressing, horrible and turbulent era. The story centers on a paranoid and nostalgic Yossarian who is fed up with his military career as an Air Force bombardier. Through imagery, allusions, and mystery, the author carefully crafts the storyline and each character to fit into the surrounding events. The simulacrum of Yossarian, considered a hero, is furious because he thinks that "every single one of them, the enemy forces, is trying to kill him." Although he is a soldier of war, the main problem comes not from the opposing central powers, but from his own army whose leaders continue to increase the number of missions that men must carry out to fulfill their duty to the States -United. Yossarian faces Catch-22, an ironic and sinister bureaucratic rule, where one is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he asks to be removed from command, he s proves that he is of sound mind; therefore, ineligible to be relieved from service. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay As Yossarian becomes certain that he won't be able to let his comrades venture into different experiences of their own, from near-death missions to dealing with frauds. commercial enterprises. The first climax occurs when Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart offer Yossarian a despicable deal: he can either be court-martialed (be sent to prison) or sent home. As always, there is a catch, which means that once he arrives in the United States, Yossarian has to brag about the administration and the colonels who are fighting. Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart all agree because it could get them promoted. Another subclimax occurs when Yossarian has a flashback of Snowden's death while trying to treat him during a bombing. This leads Yossarian not to betray the men of his squadron by having others carry out his missions. The only option left for him is to “turn his back on all this damn mess and start running away” into the desert in an attempt to get to Sweden. The unfolding of the plot can be attributed to the author, Joseph Heller. As the child of Jewish immigrants from Russia, Heller recognizes what it means to be American and explores American values of freedom and war. Heller is said to have been interested in socialist politics: the socialists of the time were one of several groups very different from entering the First World War. This reveals one of the reasons why the main character, Yossarian, is determined to leave the war as soon as possible. As a bomber himself, Heller understands the pressure and tragedies that can be encountered during missions. One of the most traumatic and impactful experiences of Heller's life is described in the book when "Yossarian crawled into the back of the plane...to help the shooter"; thus, it reveals Heller's powerful indictment of the world's most senseless practice: war. Heller's view on the nature of war is expressed through the satirical tone and fractured narrative. Heller's personal critiques of post-war events such as the Cold War, the Red Scare, nuclear anxieties, and the possibility of getting lost in a large corporation/organization are evident in the book. Heller attempts to target multiple groups: society.