Topic > Literary Analysis of Capture 22 by Joseph Steller

There is a lot of literature on the topic of World War II. Joseph Steller's Catch-22, published in 1961, expressly describes this unnerving, gruesome and turbulent era. The story centers on a paranoid and nostalgic Yossarian who is fed up with his military career as an Air Force bombardier. Through imagery, allusion, and mystery, the author carefully crafts the plot and each character to fit the surrounding events. The fake Yossarian who is considered a hero is furious because he thinks that "every one of them, the enemy forces, are trying to kill him". Although he is a soldier at war, the main problem is not the opposing Central Powers, but is actually his own army, whose leaders continue to increase the number of missions the men must perform to complete their duty to the United States . Yossarian must face Catch-22, an ironic and sinister bureaucratic rule, in which one is considered insane if he voluntarily continues to carry out dangerous combat missions, but if he has asked to be removed from duty, he is proven sane; therefore, ineligible to be relieved from duty. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay As Yossarian becomes certain that he will not be able to let his companions venture into different experiences, from near-death missions to running fraudulent business ventures. The first climax occurs when Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart offer a despicable deal to Yossarian: he can have a court-martial (be sent to prison) or be sent home. As always there is a problem in the sense that once Yossarian arrives in the United States he has to boast about the administration and the colonels who fight the war. Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart all agree as it could get them promoted. Another secondary climax occurs when Yossarian has a flashback of Snowden's death while he was trying to treat him during a bombing. This leads Yossarian not to betray the men of his squadron by having others carry out his missions. The only option he has left is to “turn his back on this whole damn mess and start running” into the desert in an attempt to get to Sweden. The development of the plot can be attributed to the author, Joseph Heller. The son of Jewish immigrants from Russia, Heller recognizes what it means to be American and explores American values ​​of freedom and war. Heller is said to have been interested in socialist politics: socialists at the time were one of many groups that were quite different from entering the First World War. This reveals one of the reasons why the main character, Yossarian, is determined to leave the war as soon as possible. As a bombardier himself, Heller understands the pressure and tragedies one might encounter during missions. One of Heller's most traumatic and life-changing experiences is described in the book when “Yossarian crawled into the rear section of the plane...to help the gunner”; thus, this reveals Heller's powerful indictment of the world's craziest practice: war. Heller's insight into the nature of war is achieved through satirical tone and fragmented narrative. Heller's personal critique of events during the post-war years such as the Cold War, the Red Scare, nuclear anxieties, and the possibility of losing oneself in a large society/organization are evident in the book. Heller seeks to target several groups: American society, the military, and large corporations. The author attacks big corporations for being greedy and degrading American ideals just for the sake of.