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- english
- essay on lunacies of catch-22
-
- Joseph Heller, in his Catch-22, satirizes the lunacies and catches
- of war and the military. This world which Yossarian and Milo inhabit is a
- game to be played very carefully. That the craziness of war is a game can
- be supported by the fact that Milo and Yossarian both win, but each having
- and utilizing a different strategy. "Milo and Yossarian came from
- fundamentally different con-man traditions, both pressed into new extremes.
- The contrast in styles can be summed up by saying that Milo is serious but
- covert and that Yossarian is open but playful."
-
- Throughout the novel, Milo makes headway by his manipulations and
- fast talk. He makes himself invaluable to Colonel Cathcart by forcing him
- to realize that he is irreplaceable. He manipulates himself into a
- position of acting as a lifeline to the base by appealing to the weaknesses
- of his superior officers. Cunningly he maneuvers himself into power and
- becomes the most influential person in the entire scope of operations.
- However, he loses the sense of the game; he becomes so wrapped up in
- gaining position, he loses his sense of awareness and becomes singularly
- concerned with money and power.
-
- Yossaarian, on the other hand, remains openly defiant of the game
- but succeeds at it because of his playfulness. He attends a march stark
- naked, openly aborts missions, and obviously fakes illness to escape "the
- game." In doing this he makes his points and accomplishes his goals but
- only because of his playfulness. Yossarian made real headway upon his
- temporary repression of his ideals and principles but realizing his mistake
- changed his mind. He could not manipulate his beliefs as Milo does but
- could not advance with open, serious defiance and strict adherence to his
- principles. Yossarian sacrificed his only straightforward chance to escape
- the crazy "game" because of his beliefs.
-
- The craziness of this game and the winding paths that Yossarian and
- Milo follow to no particular end are what signified Catch-22 as a classic
- anti-realistic novel. Both characters are thrust into the same situation
- and are forced to make the best of it. The choices they make and the
- routes they follow through life determine their outcome.
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