Ubiquitous Relevance

Joseph Heller’s historical fiction Catch-22 depicts the story of protagonist John Yossarian, a bombardier for the Air Force. In a bureaucratic state of the military, Yossarian as well as the other soldiers are subjugated in an almost inhumane way, where their rights are taken advantage of and soldiers are as replaceable as light bulbs. The sarcastic and satirical humor interlaced within provides a lighthearted break from the mind-numbing horror that they are subject to. I was enchanted in the beginning, with the paradise-like state Yossarian was in while at the hospital. The humor grabbed my attention and the mistrusted feeling provided by the war itself sparked me back to a place of realism. The casual vulgarity was almost charming, as you learned more about each character. A few things that didn’t really sit well with me were the logical discrepancies some of the characters experienced. Why would Yossarian claim to be insane, as only a sane person would make such a claim to get out of battle? The differences in what people say and what people do, as is portrayed when Milo Minderbinder says “everyone has a share,” displays mistrust and a sense of communism. These all-to-real situations the soldiers face are almost too uncomfortable to read. Nevertheless, a humorous remark or section of witty banter among men breaks the tension. A significant piece to this novel was the overarching theme of disillusionment, as is seen from the bureaucratic standpoint of authority to the chocolate covered cotton balls that Milo tries to sell. It is this disillusionment that many of the “lost generation” experience, the promise of something underneath the fluff, when all one gets is deception. The satirical yet realistic natures of this novel paint a wonderful foreground to the characters and setting that Heller artfully creates. The unique style and tone contributed to a piece with relevance in the ubiquitous aspects of society, war, and mistrust.