An Existentialist Reading of Catch-22

             Mankind has always been in search of something more meaningful
             than we can truly comprehend, when in actuality, there really isn't
             anything we can truly comprehend to begin with. Mankind is plummeting
             towards an unknown destiny of prosperity or devastation and there is truly
             nothing we can do or say to stop whatever occurrence awaits us. Joseph
             Heller brings us a little closer to our insane destiny with his novel Catch-
             22 as he depicts grimly absurd scenes that are "all about a society that is
             fast going insane", according to John W. Aldridge. Characters cursed with
             savage physical desires and characters cursed with one-dimensional thoughts
             are the basic make-up of this extremely intricate novel. The reader is
             constantly aware of basic human desire, but then they're reminded of the
             absurdity and pointlessness of the world in which they desire. Heller
             highlights the essential nonsensicality of our existence through the use of
             absurd, and yet somehow depressingly realistic circumstances that force the
             reader into wondering why they go through so much trouble to exist in a
             world that most certainly has no point.
             Heller does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of
             basic human desires, and they play a pivotal role in this novel. Heller
             uses each of his characters to introduce a new desire and or physical need
             that humans experiences in all phases of their lives. Hungry Joe represents
             sexual desire, the Chaplain represents the desire for basic human
             companionship, Milo depicts the desire for success and money, and so on and
             so forth. Almost all of Heller's Characters are in search of something,
             they all want to feel something or be a part of something in order to feel
             connected to something. Yossarian is constantly falling in love because he
             needs to feel that connection to another human being. Yossarian needs to
             know that it is possible for two humans to connect in a way that ...

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