In the novel catch-22 written by joseph

In the novel Catch-22 written by Joseph Heller the revelation of corruptness in the human mind and society are shown to us by the usage of  diverse themes and a unique way of building structure to the book.

Heller mocks wars values by using the settings of the war to deride society. He is able to falsely depict the setting and language of the characters in the novel by showing a way that makes society come off as  dark and twisted. Heller shows the reader his outlook on the effects war has had on society in present time and on the future. In the novel, the gift of individuality that we as human beings are given is lost by the soldiers due to the insanity of  the war and all they experience. Heller criticizes not only the individual and war but also all of society.  Heller shows the reader how each and every soldier loses their individuality from an authoritative figure and much less from the actual act of fighting in battle.

Lieutenant Scheisskopf’s treats his soldiers as if they were dolls rather than as human beings ,  Heller uses Lieutenant Scheisskopf’s to convey that the army is ran by people that have no clue how to win wars and only ruin soldiers. “ Lieutenant Scheisskopf was an R. O. T. C. graduate who was rather glad that the war had broken out, since it gave him an opportunity to wear an officer’s uniform every day and say ‘ Men’ in a clipped, military voice.” (71)  Another example of this theme is when  Colonel Cathcart continually increases the number of missions his squadron must fly but only because it will enhance his prestige in the ranks.

“ They’ll be bombing a tiny undefended village. It’s only purpose is to delay German reinforcements at a time when we aren’t even planning an offensive. But that’s the way things go when you elevate mediocre people to positions of authority. Why, this tiny mountain village is so insignificant that it isn’t even on the map.”- Colonel Cathcart.

Another example is when Yossarian wounds his leg  and is told that he must  take  care of his leg because it’s government property, this shows that the soldiers are looked at as property by the government and not looked at as individuals. In a bureaucracy individualism does not matter as Heller exemplifies. A couple recurring motifs in Hellers novel are lying, stealing, adultery, and killing. The men  distract themselves by meeting up with prostitutes that are provided by the army. The men often mistake lust for love. Heller drives into the reader the significance of greed and its effects on the men. Greed causes the men to lose a sense of their morals and betray their country or friends and family. Many of the characters will lie to achieve their goals or hide the corruption going on in the war from the American public.

Honor and patriotism are suppressed in the novel. The men were told by their officers that they were fighting for their country, but in reality it’s to make the officers look good. Yossarian is told by the officers that they are his “ country”. Heller shows us that no values or morales are left. Every time  the men believe  they have found a solution to a problem, a catch defeats them.

The men can be grounded if they are insane, but if they recognize the insanity of their missions, they are sane and are required to do more missions. When Yossarian begins asking  questions to interrupt Colonel Korn’s  educational sessions, Colonel Korn decides that only the ones who never ask questions may ask questions. When they want to discuss a problem with Major Major, they are allowed into his office only when he isn’t there. Even when Yossarian is offered a deal that would send him home a hero, he must go against his friends by giving praise to  the officers who were the reason for  many of their deaths. Life is one frustrating paradox after another “ it’s a catch”. Catch-22 is a social satire it is a novel that uses absurd humor to discredit or ridicule aspects of our society.  Heller uses many different writing styles and it can make it  difficult to know whether or not to take a reference literally.

However, Heller can reference that  may seem surreal but isn’t. An example is that an officer would bomb his own squadron but we later learn that Milo Minderbinder makes  a business deal with the Germans to bomb his squadron.