Catch 22, by Joseph Heller illustrates the negative mental effects that war inflicts on its participants, during the setting of WWII. Heller primarily targets the lives of soldiers on the front line, and how each man copes with their internal conflicts differently. This aspect of the novel presents particular interest due to the authors ability to allow the reader to gain insight on each soldiers mental conflicts, and how each soldier physically, and mentally react to differing situations. For example, the quote states “As far back as Yossarian could recall, he explained to Clevinger with a patient smile, somebody was always hatching a plot to kill him. There were people who cared for him and people who didn’t, and those who didn’t hated him and were out to get him” (Heller 19). Yossarian, the protagonist of the novel, subconsciously utilizes paranoia to cope with the mental struggle of war. His paranoia is the product of the constant everything’s out to kill you mentality in war, and therefore has crept its way into normal life for him. This insight on a soldiers coping of war, which we as ordinary civilians in society can’t possibly comprehend, is the most interesting topic at this point.
That being said, the novel often brings in multitudes of differing characters within its chapters, and at the same time never mentions them again after that particular scene. This leads to a confusing roster of characters, that makes it a intricate process of keeping track of each persons personalities, quirks, and tribulations. Furthermore, each character often uses anger as their primary coping mechanism. This makes each confrontation with another soldier extremely repetitive, since the reader already knows the main character is going to get into a fight with the other soldier. These reasons often take away from the enjoy-ability of the novel, interrupting interesting scenes in which the author dives into a soldiers mental coping of war.
Wow Ryan, so interesting! The author seems to really do a good job at illustrating the mental effects that the war puts on soldiers. I find it quite sad that soldiers have to put up with these negative mental effects for the rest of their lives.
I understand the confusion that you have when reading this book. It certainly is a process of keeping track of every single persons personality.
Thank you for sharing, Ryan. I hope you are enjoying your reading of CATCH 22 now, in spite of Joseph’s confrontations with the other soldiers. Why do you think the author continues to offer these confrontations? Take a particular look at the author’s use of language and communication between these characters? What words specifically are used and why? Do they help or hinder their communication? Paying attention to the language may open up some more ideas about the author’s purpose.