1. The story is setting after Americans get involved in World War II on the island of Pianoso off the coast of Italy. Yossarian is the main character who is trapped on the island with his fellow soldiers being sent constantly into reconnaissance missions and is never able to fulfill their Jacob’s ladder number of assignments before returning home. The Colonels and Majors constantly raise the number of required task before a soldier can leave from 42 then 50 etc. Wanting to avoid combat he fakes being sick repeatedly and seems to be insane believing all enemy actions are to personally kill him. For this the other enlisted realize he’s a nutcase. The commanding officers send their squadrons on extremely dangerous missions where few return for their own prestige and glory. These crusades make Yossarian want to get dishonorably discharged for insanity. In trying to plea for his own insanity he admits he is sane so the regulation, Catch-22, cannot be broken by this act. As the phrase appears more often it comes to mean something non sequitur, ironic, circular in reasoning, or paradoxical. It reverberates throughout the novel haunting every character in all their anecdotes. Examples of these are when Nately and his Italian whore both begin loving one another for him only to die shortly after. Then she blames the messenger Yossarian. The other chord to the story is the black market of Minderbinder which is really just a way to feed various people in Europe while he Ponzis everyone else out of food and profit.
2. The theme of the novel would have to be the effects of absolute control over others. The higher ups in the military and government treat the troops as tools to be used and acceptable loses if they fall in battle. With the bar raising continuously for how many objectives to complete before leaving the men are at the mercy of unnamed forces above them. Simply pawns in a chess game unable to see the players. They are the disposable heroes of their day sent to fight and if necessary die. A loss of control is evident within the novel as when Yossarian even attempts to argue with the unknown puppet master but merely told no in an O’Brien like fashion with the mixing of words.
3. The author’s tone is one of anxiety as if the inconceivable assassin is always waiting for you. Like Yossarian the book is plagued by paranoia.
“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.”or “Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you” and “The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he is on.”
Characterization
1. “He knew everything there was to know about literature, except how to enjoy it”
“The Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likable. In three days no one could stand him.”
“[They] agreed that it was neither possible nor necessary to educate people who never questioned anything.”
“You have a morbid aversion to dying. You probably resent the fact that you're at war and might get your head blown off any second." Said the Colonel
"I more than resent it, sir. I'm absolutely incensed."
"You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs, or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate."
"Consciously, sir, consciously," Yossarian corrected in an effort to help. "I hate them consciously."
"You're antagonistic to the idea of being robbed, exploited, degraded, humiliated, or deceived. Misery depresses you. Ignorance depresses you. Persecution depresses you. Violence depresses you. Corruption depresses you. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if you're a manic-depressive!"
"Yes, sir. Perhaps I am."
"Don't try to deny it."
"I'm not denying it, sir," said Yossarian, pleased with the miraculous rapport that finally existed between them. "I agree with all you've said.”
In literature it is vital to use both types of characterization to prevent a story especially a decently long one such as this from becoming bland from simple sentences like, “The major was a sick middle aged man who worked in communications”.
2. When Heller focuses on a character he generally uses shorter sentences and either features they have or actions they have taken to describe them. “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three. Even among men lacking all distinction he inevitably stood out as a man lacking more distinction than all the rest, and people who met him were always impressed by how unimpressive he was.” or “Well, he died. You don't get any older than that.” and “Prostitution gives her an opportunity to meet people. It provides fresh air and wholesome exercise, and it keeps her out of trouble.” As for the vocabulary employed it gets more crude and blunt than even how it usually is.
3. This protagonist is actually very static and flat. He makes minor but no major strides in another direction in the portion of his life the author covers. From the first page he has a similar mindset that everyone is after him, the war machinery is unrelenting and cruel, and the war is not worth its cost. He does alter his attitude but only slightly finding out the bureaucrats and officers are more sinister then he previously assumed.
4. Although I enjoyed the book and the characters, like Winston from Nineteen Eighty-Four, I could not relate to these protagonists. Nineteen Eighty-Four is one of my favorite stories but I could connect more with a story’s people that I didn’t particular like such as Catcher in the Rye or The Grapes of Wrath (which I found boring). However maybe I’m just too lame to enjoy people with similar challenges yet I love characters like Gatsby.
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