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Using his unique style and structure, Joseph Heller masterfully manages to interlay humor and terror, comedy and tragedy, and reveals in the process the perversions of the human character and of society gone mad. The first stroke of Heller's deft touch is his presentation of outrageous characters, acting outrageously. From the first chapter, we are presented with a slew of unbelievable characters whose actions and ideologies are uproariously funny, and horrifically disturbing. In fact, the manner in which the reader recognizes the character's dual nature will serve as the first example of Heller's amalgamation of comedy and tragedy. Dunbar's theory of life is first received with a burst of laughter from the audience. Life is short, and Dunbar wishes to extend it as much as possible. If time flies when one is having fun, then conversely, time must slow when one is bored. Dunbar endeavors to make his life as boring as possible, thus increasing the length of its passing. Indeed, it is understandable why such an attitude should elicit a laugh, but the further implications are horrific. Society's emphasis on life over meaning comes as a shocking revelation to the audience. Heller further reinforces that idea with characters such as Doc
The debate leaves the audience struggling to decide who is crazy. Ultimately, Catch-22 is the unwritten loophole that empowers authorities to revoke your rights whenever it suits their cruel whims. The most notable instance of the paradox is Catch-22. The unreasonable logistics of his demise are certain to garner laughs. Though most serve largely as foils to Yossarian and his philosophy, much can still be made of their condition. Even when Yossarian is offered an apparently harmless deal that would allow him to go home as a hero, there is a catch. To be grounded, one must be insane, but one must also ask to be grounded. Society truly does reward persons for profit, even if it results, as it often does, in terrible distress. Daneeka, Duckett, the Old Man, Peckem, etc. And as Heller shows, life is reduced to one frustrating paradox after another. Through brilliant characterizations, superb irony, mind-boggling paradoxes, and ingenious absurdity, Heller manages interlay humor and terror, comedy and tragedy into a beautiful whole as Catch-22. However, asking to be grounded shows the desire for self-preservation, a sure sign of sanity. -- further provide the audience with humorous instances of exaggeration, whose ultimate truth proves to be horrifying. Even his reason for not going forward is absurd; he refuses to accept the enlisted men praying to the same God as the officers.
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Acceptance Essays
