"Catch-22"

Paper Summary:

In Joseph Heller's book, "Catch-22", the author has created a broad allegory about the insanity of war. The paper examines this allegory, which is played out in many ways, but in particular, by juxtaposing two characters opposite each other: Yossarian, a squadron commander who is repeatedly frustrated as terrible events repeatedly occur for surreal reasons, and Milo Minderbinder, who is immensely successful at war profiteering and gains great respect for these activities even when his actions are completely unconscionable.

From the Paper:

"Several themes are threaded throughout the book. Yossarian is obsessed with issues related to death. Minderbender emphasizes Yossarian's concerns about being mortal through his near-total lack of concern even though he it participating in a war. The absurdity of bureaucracy in war is demonstrated through both characters. Yossarian demonstrates it by revealing the bureaucratic hypocricies of the war; Minderbinder demonstrates it as he creates his own dishonest bureaucracy to manage his war profiteering business. Finally, Yossarian struggles with issues of right and wrong throughout the book, a concern emphasized by Minderbender's pattern of choosing how he will act strictly based on what will maximize his profits."

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