Catch 22 Literary Analysis

Through this book, an average American high school student can learn academically through this book. This book teaches the reader about different forms of perspective. This book is told through each character’s perspective and can be seen as a learning tool for young writers. In addition to the perspectives, another benefit of reading this book is the literary devices used through it. For example, a common literary device that can be found throughout the story is the use of cliffhangers. They leave the reader in suspense and they often happen at the end of chapters. The story features many diverse squads of soldiers and their experiences are split into chapters. The use of cliffhangers leaves the reader waiting for their favorite character’s story to come back. Finally, the reader can take organization skill from this book. Throughout this story, the events of different characters happen at the same time and Mark Bowden divides the experiences through the chapters. A high school student can take this style of writing and utilize it throughout their literature. As well as teaching a student academically, the story provides social benefits.

Often times Catch-22 is characterized by a very loose grip on reality. The line between what is apparent and what is real is continually indistinguishable, even to readers. One aspect that contributes greatly to this effect is the distortion of justice and the military technicalities. In the military world created by Heller, what is written on paper is what is true, even if it can be defied by reality. Throughout much of the book, Yossarian is found complaining that there is a “dead man”(24) in his tent. When the concept of the dead man is first introduced, the readers are led to believe that there is an actual dead soldier sitting in Yossarian’s tent, which the military refuses to remove. However, later clarification shows that is not the case at all, but rather, after setting his luggage down, the soldier was killed in the air before he even got the chance to sign in. The grim irony of the situation is that according to the appearance based logic of the military, it is as if the man was never there at all, and his things can therefore not be processed. Another example of such distorted reality is found in McWatt’s

The comedy that Catch-22 brings is ironic in itself, think how can you get humor out of war which entails pain and suffering, that beats me how Heller does it but by whatever means used Heller creates a complete package of humor and real life occurrences which is a great fete in itself. "Though it's comic formula riddle, Heller's novel expresses the apparently inescapable human predicament." (Colmer 213)

It is frequently said that the novel Catch – 22 by Joseph Heller is about Heller’s opinion on war and lack of patriotism. Although it is understandable how one could grasp those concepts from the novel the main crux of the novel is for the reader to have noticed Heller’s use of satire within the characters. Also to be effected by Yosarrian’s evolution. Heller uses satire to portray his outlook on war but also other aspects in society. The other aspects are value of life, misuse of power, women and the inhuman bureaucracy of the military structure as a whole.

During the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, author J.D. Salinger brings Holden’s pessimistic, antisocial personality to life through what he says, how he says it, and through the characters he meets. Salinger bases Holden’s expressions off of the culture of the 1950’s, his own personal dialect, and the everyday occurrences of Holden’s life in mind. J.D. Salinger manipulates the diction, uses syntax to criticize others, and controls the character interaction and dialogue in order to create the protagonist, Holden Caulfield.

Power and control plays a big role in the lives many. When power is used as a form of control, it leads to depression and misery in the relationship. This is proven through the themes and symbolism used in the stories Lesson before Dying, The fun they had, The strangers that came to town, and Dolls house through the median of three major unsuccessful relationship: racial tension between the African Americans and the caucasians in the novel Lesson before Dying, Doll’s House demonstrates a controlling relationship can be detrimental for both individuals and The Stranger That Came To Town along with The Fun They Had show that when an individual is suppressed by majority they become despondent.

The novel Fly Away Peter expresses specific attitudes and values by encouraging the reader to identify with the central character, Jim Saddler. David Malouf, the author, attempts to expose the brutality of war and encourages readers to realise that one can be living a very sheltered lifestyle oblivious of the cruelty and negative side of life. In this text dealing with the experiences of Jim during World War I and events leading up to his signing up, the author uses biblical allusions, evocative and sensuous imagery, contrast of settings, metaphors and other characters to aid readers to establish an identity for the protagonist. It is through his central character that he communicates his disparaging perspective on war and points out

“Catch-22 didn't entirely succeed for me as a comedy. The huge ensemble cast was mostly too unbelievable and exaggerated for me to find funny, and some of the scenes (particularly around the love lives of the soldiers) were more painful and sordid than amusing” (Erie org). this particular person could not find all the humor he intended for his prospected audience. This critic of Catch 22 not only spoke for themselves but also for others. Catch 22 was intended to be funny all the way through the book but this particular person did not like or how Heller interpreted his characters.

Joseph Heller’s satirical novel, Catch-22, received mixed reactions when it first appeared on the literary scene. Published in postwar 1961, the powerful satire embedded within the pages of Catch-22 found acclaim and recognition amidst much criticism for its blatant anti-war message. The now infamous tale of Yossarian’s plight within the air force of World War II has gained popularity and praise over the years for the clever way in which Heller communicates “the absurdity and self-perpetuating insanity of bureaucracies, particularly military bureaucracies.” (Allbery) Heller tears down society’s glorified image of war by taking his readers deep into the soldiers’ world, a world in which there is a marked absence of independent thought, where the worst in human nature is prevalent, and where violence purely for violence’s sake becomes the new norm. Heller manages to turn the indisputable ‘good’ war, World War II, into a shamble of red tape and senseless violence by revealing the painful futility of fighting wars laden with the weight of bureaucratic ineffectiveness, irrationality, and unadulterated lunacy.

In this essay, I will discuss how Tim O’Brien’s works “The Things They Carried” and “If I Die in a Combat Zone” reveal the individual human stories that are lost in war. In “The Things They Carried” O’Brien reveals the war stories of Alpha Company and shows how human each soldier is. In “If I Die in a Combat Zone” O’Brien tells his story with clarity, little of the dreamlike quality of “Things They Carried” is in this earlier work, which uses more blunt language that doesn’t hold back. In “If I Die” O’Brien reveals his own personal journey through war and what he experienced. O’Brien’s works prove a point that men, humans fight wars, not ideas. Phil Klay’s novel “Redeployment” is another novel that attempts to humanize soldiers in war. “Redeployment” is an anthology series, each chapter attempts to let us in the head of a new character – set in Afghanistan or in the United States – that is struggling with the current troubles of war. With the help of Phil Klay’s novel I will show how O’Brien’s works illustrate and highlight each story that make a war.

 Joseph Heller's narration, dialogue, and characterization in Catch-22 all create a unique perspective of war and our society's bureaucracy. The satire, sarcasm, irony, and general absurdity of the novel provide a view of the irrationality of man's behavior. The horror that is portrayed in Catch-22 is intensified by the humorous way in which it is portrayed. Distortion and exaggeration highlight the characters and scenario while magnifying the confusion. Parallel structure and repetition serve to reinforce the novel's themes.

Reading about the everyday life of a soldier gives you a sense of how some days may be extremely exciting or normal. It seems to help you open one’s eyes to the cost of their freedom. I enjoyed this book because the of the many variations of sequences throughout. His writing style kept me interested throughout the book as one felt closer and more involved in the story because of the story telling.

Published in 1961, Joseph Heller’s satire novel Catch-22 has established itself as a prominent work in American literary history. Heller bases the novel on his own experiences as a bombardier on the Italian front during the Second World War, following the story of an American Air Force squadron stationed on the fictional island of Pianosa, Italy. The plot is centered around the anti hero Yossarian, whose fear that everyone is trying to kill him drives him to insanity. In Catch-22, Joseph Heller uses irony, humor and a non-chronological and repeated syntax to convey themes of the insanity of war and breakdown of communication in order to make his greater argument against war.

Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor and critic. He is mainly known for his trilogy that investigates, using fiction, the history of Nigeria. The trilogy begins with Things Fall Apart, followed by No Longer at Ease and ended with Arrow of God. Furthermore, in this critically analytical essay, through a feminist perspective, a chapter of his second novel, No Longer at Ease, published in 1960, will be discussed. The setting of the novel is Lagos, Nigeria and Umuofia, Nigeria during the 1950s, before Nigeria attained independence from Great Britain. The novel, No Longer at Ease begins with Obi Okonkwo on trial, charged for accepting a bribe. However, using flashback, the author takes us back to the point before Obi’s departure

Also, Yossarian uses repetition to show the mental abuse put upon the soldiers during these times of war in Catch-22. The soldiers were constantly told phrases that demoralized them such as, “Raise the number” (Heller 18). Raising the number refers to the rise in the number of missions, where they risk their lives, to go home. The phrase, “raise the number,” was repeated all throughout the novel and especially after something good happened to bring the soldiers back to depression. This was done to show they had no morals towards defending their country and just wanted to be home.