Catch-22 and the Insanity of War

Catch-22 has been one of those books that sat on my TBR pile for a while. I must admit it would have probably stayed there if not for the tv show. The show starred some big names like Hugh Laurie and George Clooney; it was a must for hubby and I to watch. After all, my husband medically retired from the Australian Defense Force, and this was a series about the insanity of war. 

 Picture from the tv series Catch-22 

I remember my husband being frustrated and annoyed by Yossarian, while I found Yossarian to be a man struggling with situations he had no control over. This difference of opinion about the main character made me read Catch-22.

From the very first page, you can see the differences between the book and the series. The book starts with Yossarian in the hospital already deployed. He had a pain in his stomach but not wanting to fly he deceives the doctors and nurses into thinking he is still sick. It is here, the reader, gets an idea of how much Yossarian doesn’t want to be there and the lengths he will go, to get out of flying. During the book you see Yossarian go from faking illness all the way to refusing to fly and risking jail.  

Each character you are introduced too, give the reader a taste of how demanding and war is on the psyche. Everyone deployed is, in their own way, crazy. They are pushed past the limits of their capabilities, from being drafted, too friends dying. 

There is part of a speech, Colonel Cargill is giving that stuck out. It goes…

“Now, men, don’t misunderstand me. This is all voluntary, of course. I’d be the last colonel in the world to order you to go to that U.S.O show and have a good time, but I want every one of you who isn’t sick enough to be in a hospital to go to that U.S.O show right now and have a good time, and that’s an order!”

It stuck out because of how Colonel Cargill was ignoring what his troops needed. The high ranks officers push their men beyond their limits. They praise those who put others in danger to get the job done while punishing those who carer about their men. Doc Daneeka points out that many of the people Yossarian thinks are crazy, are in fact crazy. He can’t do anything about it though because they don’t ask him too. Therefore, they continue to be there, being crazy. While Yossarian, who asks the doc for help because he thinks he is going crazy is, in fact, sane; wanting help and to be away from the insanity of war, is a rational thought process and therefore means the person is sane. And, that there is the catch-22 that plays essentially throughout the book, even when Yossarian falls in love. You can’t escape the Catch-22 while you are at war. 

 Below is another quote that impacted me. Yossarian is shouting that they need to turn around, and no one is listening to him. He is having a panic attack while up in the air. Finally Aarfy checks on him. 

“I said get out of here!” Yossarian shouted, and broke into tears. He began punching Aarfy in the body with both hands as hard as he could. “Get away from me! Get way!”

The way Joseph Heller writes, helps the reader taste the insanity of the situation. His use of fast pacing and jumping from one story to another can make the reader feel crazy. Readers will either love it or hate it. Each character has their own kind of insanity due to the chaos of war. As you progress through the story even Yossarian becomes increasing unhinged.

I loved both the book and the show. They are both tragic with witty, funny moments which helps keep the reader/viewer entertained. I give the show 5 stars and the book 4 stars. Joseph Heller story hits home by showcasing how pushing troops past their limits and ignoring military members mental health can create chaos and destroy peoples lives. 

If you don’t feel like the book is for you, I would still recommend the tv show. It has fantastic acting and while different from the book it still holds the values and lessons Joseph Heller was trying to convey. I could honestly go on and on about this book. 

Thanks for reading and please let me know what you thought of Catch-22. 

Rebecca Nolan