Marie Fleurimond
Tuesday, September 12, 2000
Period 2 Shonty
AP English Composition & Language
What's So Funny...Catch 22?
Comedy and tragedy have always been separated into separate categories. Certainly most tragedies have humorous moments, and even the craziest comedies were at times serious. Nevertheless, even the development of tragedies left the division unharmed. That is, until Catch-22. Joseph Heller does not deal with these issues in the normal fashion instead he criticizes them and the society that help carry these things out. Heller in fact goes beyond criticizing, he satirizes. Joseph Heller manages to bond humor and terror, comedy and tragedy, and reveals in the process the stubbornness of the human character and of society gone nuts.
From the first chapter, we are presented with unbelievable characters whose actions and thoughts are wildly funny, and horrifically disturbing. In fact, the manner in which the reader recognizes the character's altar nature will serve as the first example of Heller's combination 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 actions to make his life as boring as possible, thus increasing the length of its passing. Indeed, it is understandable why such an attitude should produce a laugh, but the further allusions are horrific. Heller further reinforces that idea with characters such as Doc Daneeka, who values protection and money over responsibility and friendship, and Milo who values pride and fortune over the lives of thousands of others. The idea that follows gives us characters that are more interested in themselves. Though they are initially comical, their nature is ultimately revealed to be false and appalling, arousing disgust and pity, a com...