JOSEPH HELLER’S CATCH-22: YOSSARIAN CASE
JOSEPH HELLER’S CATCH-22: YOSSARIAN CASE

Summary/Abstract: The circumstances under which Joseph Hellerřs most important novel appeared were more than dramatic, marking probably the hottest moment of the Cold War. ŘCatch-22ř was published a few weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis started, in late October 1962. The world was very close to Apocalypse, which could easily have been brought about by either the American or the Soviet leader pushing the atomic button. The purpose of the hereby study is to present the fact that ŘCatch-22ř is only one example of the absurdity and insanity that war brings. The officersř efforts only include putting their men in dangerous situations in which their goal is to get a Ŗtight aerial photographŗ or something vain of the like. Success, measured in risk and vanity, is no longer measured by accuracy and getting the job done with no fatalities. People who eventually end up dead in combat surround Yossarian (the main character) and this makes him lose his desire to fly. Yossarian realizes that he can avoid his mission duties by staying in the hospital. But soon he realizes that his responsibilities will eventually catch up to him, and he will be required to fulfill the number of missions required of him

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