Literary Analysis #2

Catch 22

ANALYSIS
1. The plot of Catch 22 is about how a protagonist, Yossarian,  tries to get himself sent back home during War World Two. Unfortunately  he is faced with many obstacles along the way. The catch of catch-22, can be interpreted different ways throughout the novel. For example, you can be discharged from the army if you are insane, but Catch-22 states if you say your crazy, you're sane for realizing it. Which seems to keep everything in an on going cycle. Yossarian's tries to stay alive throughout the entire war. He is always fending for himself and keeping on his toes always which eventually makes other men think he is truly crazy. 
2. The theme of  Catch-22 is that nothing in life is ever truly changed(everything seems to go in circles in other words). Yossarian's belief was that if you had nothing to live for then you weren't living. You should only be concerned with yourself because if you worry for the well-beings of others you may put yourself in harms way. Another major theme is sanity and how most of the world seems very different to anyone who is not crazy.
3. The authors tone throughout the novel is sarcastic. My understanding of it is that nobody truly understands the war except for the men that come out of it crazy.

• "Who's they?" he wanted to know. "Who, specifically, do you think is trying to murder you?""Every one of them," Yossarian told him."Every one of whom?""Every one of whom do you think?""I haven't any idea.""Then how do you know they aren't?""Because …" Clevinger sputtered, and turned speechless with frustration.
• "His nature was invariably gentle and polite. He had lived for almost twenty years without trauma, tension, hate or neurosis, which was proof to Yossarian of just how crazy he really was."
• " He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive."
• "They were the most depressing group of people Yossarain had ever been with. They were always in high spirits."

4. Heller's use of  irony, hyperbole, dialogue, foreshadowing, flashbacks, direst characters, and symbolism help the reader understand the themes of the novel.

Irony sets the mood for Catch 22. As you can see in this qoute irony is not needed yet the use of it sets up the entire novel.

• "There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he would have to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."
•  “The next thing you know you’ll be claiming you’re Washington Irving

Yossarian signing the censored letters a “Washington Irving” during the first chapter of the book foreshadows the subplot of the C.I.D. men seeking whoever is doing this and then finally laying the blame on the chaplain.

Flashback:  

• (446-450) Yossarian thinks of Snowden and i thought back too i B-25 where Yossarian is attempting to keep Snowden alive 

Direct Characterization

•  “Colonal Cathcart was a slick, successful, slipshod, unhappy man of thirty-six who lumbered when he walked and wanted to be a general.”

Dialogue 

• " ‘Will you speak up please? He couldn’t hear you.’ ‘Yes, sir. I--’ ‘Metcalf.’ ‘ Sir?’ ‘Didn’t I tell you to keep your stupid mouth shut’ ‘Yes, sir.’ . . .” 

The whole book comes off as a hyperbole, in the sense that the author writes each character with huge exaggeration so you can really see what Yossarrian is dealing with. 

• "Why did you walk around with crab apples in your cheeks? Yossarian asked again. "That's what I asked.""Because they've got a better shape than horse chestnuts," Orr answered. "I just told you that."
• "Why," swore Yossarian at him approvingly, "you evil-eyed, mechanically-aptituded, disaffiliated son of a bitch, did you walk around with anything in your cheeks?"
• "I didn't," Orr said, "walk around with anything in my cheeks. I walked around with crab apples in my cheeks. When I couldn't get crab apples, I walked around with horse chestnuts. In my cheeks."

CHARACTERIZATION 

1.Yossarrian represents everyone who tries to cheat the system. He believes in finding and controlling his own fate. But because of his paranoia, he is separated from the group

Colonel Cathcart was a worm. Cathcart's often  manipulating his soldiers to advance his own rank. Lieutenant Cathcart has no guilt about placing his men's lives in danger. To impress his supervisor, he purposely volunteers his men for the most dangerous missions. Constantly raising the number of required missions his men have to fly, he shows the catch. 

2.The authors syntax and diction change as he addresses different characters because each character has different views on the war. Yossarrian believes the war is just putting yourself in harms way for others and it is not worth it. in fact, he is afraid to be there and tries to be sent home constantly. Then there are characters like Cathcart and Milo who prey on others weaknesses to get what they want and be on top.

3.  Yossarrian is a dynamic and flat character. He is the most rational and realistic character Catch 22. He goes into the war afraid and unwilling to participate in anything other than keeping alive which is why he fakes illnesses to avoid participating in any missions. He lived by believing that ,“nobody had a right to take such frightful risks with his life.”

4. After reading Catch 22 I feel as if I met a real person. Heller gave Yossarrian real life characteristics such as fear. He was a good man in the sense that he wasn't willing to participate but he was willing to help out those who did participate and should empathy to those who lost their lives.