Literature Analysis #2 

Catch-22 by Joesph Heller

1) Captain Yossarian is a US army air Forces Bombadier stationed somewhere in Italy. They are constantly enticed to fly more missions in order to get a discharge from the Army. But the number of Missions is constantly raised. Also you can claim insanity and get a discharge. But you need to fill out paperwork saying you are insane to do so. But if one fills out the paperwork then one really isn't crazy. But, one must be crazy to keep flying missions. So it's a pretty absurd situation.

So the story is kind of fragmented between missions and a recurring memory Yossarian has, when he tries to save a young man named Snowden. Yossarian is also convinced that everyone is out to get him. So it's apparent that there is maybe some PTSD type of disorder or some kind of something, because Yossarian is very Paranoid. And when the cook at the airfield, ( Milo) takes his parachute and sells it for artwork and uneccasary things, this perception is fueled. The general is also very callous and insensitive. He sees his men not as people, but as resources and tools that he can use to advance himself.  It's like that Charlie Chaplin quote, '' Dictators free themselves but enslave the people." I wonder if Heller had ever heard that speech while he was writing that book because the parrallels are pretty spot on. ( military-wise)

2) The theme of the novel. Well, it seems to portray a very dark and realistic view of human conflict and the corrosive effects of power, and the desire of those in power to keep others down. So the theme, succinctly, is that humans have atendency to distance themselves from others and by doing so we have conflict and eventually lose sight of who we are really fighting. is it the enemy himself, or just what he believes in?

3) The authors tone in the story is very dark.

The author uses a mix of direct characterization and indirect characterization,

1) Indirect-- When Milo steals the squadron's parachutes and sells them for his own personal profit, we can infer that he is a greedy, ego-centric person.

2) Direct-- Yossarian tells us through dialouge that he is very paranoid.

The character Yossarian is very round. His mental state detiriorates as the story goes on.