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Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)

Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars


Hemingway-esque in it’s matter-of-fact description of war, Catch-22 adds a healthy dose of sarcasm and satire to the mix. The book is often cited as one of the most significant novels of the 20th century and was made into a film in 1970. Author Joseph Heller published a sequel to the novel in 1994.


The Analysis:


Told from the viewpoints of several different characters, Catch-22 mainly follows Captain John Yossarian, a B-25 bombardier for the U.S. Army during WWII. Told in different timelines and flashbacks, the novel details events of the air squadron in Pianosa, basic training in Colorado, Air Corps training in California, and the “Great Big Siege of Bologna”. Throughout the novel, Yossarian and his fellow soldiers struggle to maintain their sanity as they navigate the horrors of war and the often unreasonable service requirements. Despite the serious undertones of the subject matter, the book remains satirical and the differing narrative perspectives often lead to a comedic punchline once the reader puts the timelines together.


Heller coined the term catch-22, which is widely used as a common phrase even 60 years later. The term describes a situation of circular logic, where a solution to a problem is denied by the nature of the problem itself. The concept is most often illustrated by military bureaucracy in the novel. For example, there is a policy that allows an exemption from flying if a pilot is crazy. The logic is that pilots in the book must be crazy to keep flying missions, but by asking to be excused from flying the pilot proves that he is aware of the dange and therefore sane, so he must continue to fly. The absurdity of the contradiction is the point of a catch-22. Often used now to describe a lose-lose situation or an idea ridiculous in nature, the cultural impact of the phrase is impressive and must be recognized.


Much of the story is repetitive and circular and contains numerous catch-22s. The constant irony and paradoxes are meant to illustrate the absolute absurdity of war and military life. A soldier’s own commanding officers can even become “the enemy” if they continue to put the soldier in danger. Miscommunication is detrimental to military operations, yet standard procedures rarely allow for clear, straightforward answers. Rigid, bureaucratic policies do not work in the chaotic context of battle, yet the military relies on a rigid structure to maintain obedience and order. I do think there is some genius in the way Heller points out these flaws without just stating them directly; however, my main problem is that after a while, the gimmick is overdone. We get it, everything is a contradiction. It’s funny at first but quickly becomes tired and unnecessary. I find this book to be incredibly crafted, yet not very enjoyable to read.



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