Catch-22
1.Catch-22 is a collection of anecdotes from pilots in world war 2. The main character is Yossarian, who is constantly seeking ways to get out of combat. He fakes illness and injury. He is determined to live forever or die trying. He desperately attempts to reach the required amount of missions required, but the amount is always raised before he can reach it. The premise of Catch-22 is that no pilot can be relieved from duty on grounds of insanity. A request must be made to be dismissed from missions. The desire to avoid missions reflects sanity and therefore disqualifies the pilot’s dismissal. Multiple paradoxes like this are evident throughout the book, and they all tie back to catch-22.
Eventually Yossarian can’t take it anymore and wanders off to Rome. There he witnesses human atrocities. He is arrested for being in Rome without a pass and is offered a choice for his commanding officer. He can be honorably discharged if he flies 80 missions or he can be court-martialed. He chooses neither and flees to neutral Sweden, leaving the war and Catch-22 behind him.
2. The theme of Catch-22 is madness and how it stems from war. Every character is insane in his or her own way, and they all got that way as a result from the war. The entire catch-22 concept highlights the ubiquity of madness. A pilot can’t be excused from missions on grounds of insanity unless he asks. If the pilot is asks not fly missions because he is insane, then he does not qualify because he is exhibiting sane behavior.
3. The author’s tone is humorous and satiric. The text is full of examples. Heller pokes fun at America’s roots with Chief White Halfcoat. He tells his story of how his people were chased around and kicked about because everywhere they settled oil was found. Later in the novel, Heller casually mentions that the soldiers believe they have found oil and they decide to kick Chief White Halfcoat off the camp. Another example of Heller’s sardonic tone is when he makes from of militant punishment techniques. After several soldiers start moaning, the commanding officer challenges someone else to moan. A uninformed soldier unfortunately moans immediately after he says this. The commanding officer orders that he is shot in a fit of rage. He is eventually calmed down, but the incident questions the mindset of some military officers. His humorous tone is also evident in the dialogue. The perpetual misunderstandings and changing of stories from the characters has a comical effect.
4. Heller uses irony when he has a doctor claim “It’s not my business to save lives.” (pg 179) This underscores how policies in the medical field may undercut the actual purpose of saving lives. He also uses dichotomy when he mentions Snowden, froze to death in the”blazing summertime.” (pg 170) He utilizes dialogue throughout the novel. In that dialogue, he employs colloquial speech. (Pg 365) On page 69 he makes an allusion to Hamlet’s soliloquy with “To die or not to die, that was the question.” This is referring to the necessity that soldiers die for the war to be successful. He also uses italicized text to add emphasis to certain ideas. (pg 386) He also uses rhetorical questions (pg 164). Another technique that he uses throughout the novel is flashbacks to set up the present narrative. This technique puts things in context and adds meaning to anecdotes. He also uses imagery to highlight the terrors of war and the injuries incurred. (Pg 341) He also makes a continued reference to Catch-22. Anytime Yossarian’s curiosity is piqued, the answer is usually Catch-22.
Characterization-
1.Major ____ de Coverly is characterized directly. The men are too fearful of his company to even inquire about his first name, let alone have a conversation for him to reveal his character. Clevinger is also directly characterized in chapter 8. The author carefully describes him as one of those geniuses with no common sense, and then verifies his claim by characterizing Clevinger directly. The Texan is indirectly characterized though his words and his actions. Heller uses this technique for this character because his actions and words depict the type of people who just won’t stop talking, even if they aren’t being listened to. He also uses indirect characterization to develop the mild mannered chaplain.
2. The author’s diction changes a little when he focuses on character. He either uses direct characterization and uses more imagery or he switches to dialogue to develop the character indirectly.
3. Yossarian is round because he is developed fully, as compared to the other characters who exhibit only a couple of characteristics consistently throughout the novel. He is also a dynamic character because he makes a significant change in the novel. At first he fakes illnesses and injuries to get out of combat. But in the end he decides he must take matters into his own hands and he deserts and seeks refuge in the neutral Sweden.
4. After reading the novel I did not feel like I met an actual character because all the characters were exaggerated. Perhaps if I had undergone the struggles that the pilots did then I could relate to the madness, but without the experience I could only hypothesize how the stress of combat missions would drive people to such extremes. An example is when Orr rambles about putting crab apples in his cheeks. There is a comic and satirical effect, but the characterization is not realistic.
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