catch22 charming billy
In structure, most novels use a straight-line approach: the plot unfolds from beginning to end. Even stories that start in the middle often return to a point in the past, and then tell events from that time up to the present. Both Catch-22 and Charming Billy, however, differ. They do not use time or order. The only way one can tell day from day, year from year, is by recalling certain landmark events in the plot. Yossarian and Billy are the main characters in each of the two books who regulate the time with their feelings about death. Past, present and future encounters with death guide each character's thoughts, emotions and decisions daily, in turn, regulating interactions with other characters. The two protagonists differ, however, as Yossarian invariably endeavors to avoid death, while Billy has one foot in the grave practically his whole life. Both McDermott and Heller's use of non-sequential structure provides for unique organization, as the imminent presence of death serves as the controlling force of time. Catch-22, set in the closing months of World War II in an American bomber squadron off Italy, depicts the theme of a tenacious desire of Yossarian to escape his own pending death. By manipulating the war setting a
Yossarian ties to speed up time, hoping he can remain in the hospital until the war is over and he can go home. Similar to Catch-22, the only way to keep track of time is to recall certain events which are specified as past, present or future of Billy's death as well as Billy's knowledge of the lie encircling the reason for his built up misery. Partial flashbacks offer tantalizing hints of events, and other echoes add details, until finally the picture becomes clear. Even though his decision to live on the run isn't ideal, he is happy knowing his destiny is in his own hands and that he doesn't sell his soul to the corrupt colonels. In this confusing book full of insanity, irreverence, and joking that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, Yossarian's fear of death starts to make sense, as does the non-sequential construction of the book. 'They're shooting at everyone,' Clevinger answered. Even after his death people have only nice things to say about Billy. 'Then why are they shooting at me?' Yossarian asked. Death is inevitable for everyone, however, when someone dies, it causes a different reaction in everyone. In the final three chapters of the book, time and sequence straighten out to the present, paralleling Yossarian's distinct decision to keep his pride and his life away from anyone at the squadron. When he finds out the bad news, alcoholism set in and he becomes wrapped up in his misery for over thirty years, no longer valuing his own life or the people's he affects. Billy succeeds in controlling his destiny as he escapes his pain in life through alcohol and eventually death. " 'They're trying to kill me,' Yossarian told him calmly. Using time as a controlling force of the plots, both novels demonstrate how important structure can be to a theme and the development of characters.
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