Milo's pathological avarice leads him to make a series of bargains with both sides of the war to satisfy his drive for profit, rather than abandoning the war and refusing to partake in the taking of innocent lives. As such, his influence expands deeply into the political realm as well, embodying the entirety of the military-industrial complex.
Milo's influence over the bureaucratic/ political realm reinforces every notion that money buys power, which Heller argues are the roots of all evil. He is revealed to be the "vice shah of Iran" (237), a "Lorenzo de Medici" (234) - like figure in Italy, and even worshipped as a god in "backward religions" by primitive, "ignorant and superstitious people" in the jungles of Africa (237). In many ways, his Syndicate does have a godly presence; its sheer complexity, coupled with its ability to obtain fresh foods from half a world away makes it incomprehensible to anyone other than Milo to understand. However, instead of being a benevolent "god" that promotes compassion, natural order, and love, Milo's influence reflects the existing culture of profiteering, repressed social order, and greed. It embodies and encourages an "I-it" culture of impersonal materialism that obstructs the path to peace by devaluating human life. .
And yet, despite his evil ulterior motives, military bureaucrats are enticed by Milo's system. Corrupt officials, such as Cathcart, Dreedle, and ---De Coverly are given completely undeserved positions of power that allow them to lead men, demonstrating complete incompetence and abysmal selfishness. They frequently abuse their power, lending Milo military resources, such as supply planes and even soldiers to run personal errands for frivolous items such as eggs, capitalizing on the blindness of men who believe that "it's better to die on one's feet than live on one's knee" (248) in the pursuit of values of peace, valor, and glory.
In 1961, Joseph Heller published Catch-22, his first novel. Based on his own war experiences, the novel wickedly satirized bureaucracy, patriotism, and all manner of traditional American ideals. This was reflective of the increasing disdain for traditional viewpoints that was growing in America at...
On the opposite end of the spectrum from the chaplain are Colonel Cathcart and Milo Minderbinder, two characters whose immoral and selfish imperatives lead them to attain material success. ... Another such powerful person on the island is Milo Minderbinder. ... After the bombing, Heller writes, "This time Milo had gone too far. ... Decent people everywhere were affronted, and Milo was all washed up until he opened his books to the public and disclosed the tremendous profit he had made- (Heller 269). ... The material success of both Milo and Cathcart, two of the most immoral characters in the n...
Another very important subplot is that of Milo Minderbinder. Milo is the mess officer of the squadron, and is constantly borrowing planes and pilots to run a syndicate of food and trade throughout Europe. ... Milo still profits greatly from all of the companies that he trades with, and even more so because he owns all the companies that are trading through him. Milo is almost worshiped by communities all over Europe, for his enterprise has brought profit to everywhere that he trades. ...
The story revolves around an aging mystery writer named Andrew Wyke and his wife's lover Milo Tindle. ... The Inspector combs through the house and finds incriminating evidence, he tells Wyke he is under arrest for the murder of Milo Tindle. Then Doppler short for Doppelganger takes off his disguise to reveal himself as Milo Tindle. ...
Milo Minderbinder is representative of corporate business. ... Milo lands a "contract with the Germans, ...to bomb his own outfit. Milo's planes separated in a well-coordinated attack and bombed the fuel-stocks...and the B-25 bombers"(Heller, 252). ...
Mess officer Milo Minderbender turns his job into an international black-market food syndicate. ... The reader can't help but be amused at the fact that Yossarian's parachute was taken from him in exchange for a share in Milo's franchise. ...
In Milos Forman's academy award winning movie, "One Flew Over the Cookoo's nest," the theme of wanting to escape life is brought to our attention. ... Milos Forman has done an amazing job creating the setting of this movie. ...
It had his wife Gala, in the top left corner with statues of Venus de Milo all throughout the painting. When I looked a little closer I could see the face of a toreador in the second statue of Venus de Milo holding a red cape on the side of him that is the dress of the first Venus de Milo statue. The content of The Hallucinogenic Toreador decipher where the toreador was hidden throughout the images of Venus de Milo. ...