Catch 22 Analysis

Comical in style and language, the message that Catch-22 introduces to its reader is one of a grim world’s decay. Heller’s fictional story portrays absurd characters and situations, but the underlying theme of human decadence is clearly visible, especially in the last portion of the book. Heller’s attitude towards his characters also gives way to an overwhelming tone of pity and sorrow for the world and its population. The overall theme of the novel depicts a decline in individuality, decay of human moral, and a certain loss of awareness of both surrounding events and personal action. The wartime atmosphere that surrounds the book and its characters has directly helped bring about all three evils. Much of the blame can be placed in the hands of particular characters, such as Milo, Aarfy, and Cathcart, who take advantage of the wartime hysteria for personal gain. The rest can be accounted as the evils of war and the squadron’s compliance to the wrong doings.

Catch-22 distinctly depicts a certain loss of individuality among the soldiers of Pianosa. Although the book starts with a variety of characters, who take part in different activities that enrich their community, it shows a pattern of slowly diminishing individuality among th

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Catch-22 creates many scenes that clearly present this loss in its many aspects. This trend become more apparent as the book progresses, and eventually fosters situations that can be characterized as simply farce. This clearly depicts that not even a person’s name gives individuality to him. To the doctors, patients are simply statistics and all the same. His ambitions are hilarious at first glance, but it is evident that human life holds little value in SHITHEAD’s mind.

A similar situation can be seen in the manner which Cathcart treats his squadron. In Cathcart’s eyes, the soldiers of Pianosa are no different from each other, because they serve to accomplish only one thing, to fly missions. As the book begins, SHITHEAD is introduced as a lover of parades and little else. At first strict, wanting all soldiers to march in perfect formation, he later wishes to string together all participants to create a perfect march. The doctors in the hospital experiment with new drugs and procedures on Giuseppe until he finally can endure no more and dies. Seeing all soldiers as being the same with little individuality, as shown by Scheisskopf’s thoughts, reveals that human life holds little value and is used merely for the advancement of certain individuals. Giuseppe is no longer a patient, he becomes nothing more than a cadaver, there for the doctors to carry out experiments on. In general, the soldiers of Pianosa are looked upon as a ready supply of man power for the war as opposed to different individuals with different skills and ambitions.

One such incident is clearly portrayed in Ssceisskopf’s parade strategies, who is introduced as a lover of parades and little else.

Another example, and perhaps an even more terrifying portrayal of the loss to individuality, can be seen in the section introducing Giuseppe, the man who saw everything twice.

Approximate Word count = 1457
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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