Part 2

The theme, the plot, the purpose, or whatever you might call it of this novel is finally becoming apparent. Rather than being about Yossarian, which I wouldn’t mind, the novel is about everyone involved in a war. From the crazy high ranked officers such as Major Major Major Major all the way down to the lowly Ex-PFC Wintergreen and the Italian lover Luciana we are shown the ways of the war, even if through exaggerated caricatures.

Using all of the characters with any power at all Heller satires the mess of bureaucracy while at war. This also of course is where the title and invention of the term catch 22 comes in. Catch 22 is of course introduced by Doc Daneeka who explains that all of those crazy enough to be sent home are too crazy to ask and anyone able to ask is just not crazy enough.

Then there is the man that absolutely disgusts me. Captain Black. The “Glorious Loyalty Oath Crusade” is the kind of false patriotism that really angers me, especially when motivated by a reason such as jealousy. The Crusade is another catch 22 of sorts as you must either waste time signing all of the loyalty oaths or be considered an outsider. Instead of having any real purpose the Crusade was only for the sake of showing up Major Major Major Major. Rather than a crusade of loyalty this is really a crusade of fear, comparable to the ridiculous American flag lapel pin controversies of present time.

More of this bureaucratic trash seems to follow around my boy Yossarian. For instance rather than bringing about any trouble or criticism by punishing Yossarian for getting a pilot killed on a second unordered bombing run, they end up giving him a medal. What he did was brave, but my issue is that the medal was more to lessen any work the officers might have to do rather than to applaud his bravery one of the only times it appears. Then of course there is the time when Yossarian tricks the whole army into thinking Bologna has been taken. Rather than anyone questioning the movement board every officer just tries to take credit for what didn’t happen. Once again it is not just the initial action that puts me off it is each and every officer trying to impress those above with what they have very little information about.

Now this whole post could be pointless as I am talking about a bunch of fake satire. What is slightly saddening is that I believe that any of these things could happen in any war past or present. It is how humans act when given power over others and a structured business of promotion.
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