How does Joseph Heller Deal with the Horrors of War?

· Soldier’s desperation to be grounded. Catch 22- impossible to escape unnatural situation

· Dictatorship of those in authority- General Dreedle, Colonel Cathcart

· Ability to change a person very much for the worse- loss of emotion

Catch 22 is a protest novel underscored with dark humour that satirizes the horrors of war and the power of modern society, especially bureaucratic institutions, to destroy the human spirit. By concentrating on the soldier’s view of events in World War II, Heller is able to deal with the horrors of war with a strong degree of humour. This use of humour also servers another purpose: it mirrors the feelings of the main character, Yossarian. As a pilot in the military, he encapsulates the desire of an ordinary man to survive the savage indictment of the horror, and madness, of war. In this essay, it will be considered how Heller deals with the horrors of war, with an emphasis on his use of humour.

Although many of the events in the novel do not appear directly related to the war, there is a constant backdrop of war and the fear that is associated with it. Many of the characters that are considered ‘crazy

minute of it and the time passed so slowly.

Another important aspect that Heller considers when dealing with the horrors of war is seen through his depiction of those in high authority. Characters such as Colonel Cathcart and General Dreedle are responsible for much of the soldiers anguish. In Chapter 19 we learn that Colonel Cathcart’s insistence to raise the number of missions is purely for his own gain, as he suffers from an egotistical need to become a General,

This catch, that is full of contradictions, makes it impossible for the soldiers to escape combat duty, and therefore they must go on facing the horrors of war. Heller’s poignant catch is introduced through satire and irony at its ridiculous complexity, but its seriousness is demonstrated through out the novel as the soldiers desperately seek to make their way around ‘Catch 22’ and be grounded.

Some topics in this essay:
Dunbar Yossarian, Colonel Cathcart, Doc Daneeka, Luciana Nately’s, Hungry Joe’s, II Heller, Colonel Cathcart’s, Germans Yossarian, Hungry Joe, Major Danby, horrors war, catch 22, colonel cathcart, heller deals, deals horrors war, change person, ability change, deals horrors, loss emotion, combat missions, ability change person, dreedle colonel cathcart, impossible soldiers, heller deals horrors, world war ii,