Catch 22, by Joseph Heller, is a critique of the society that we live in. Whoever is proud of what we have advanced to, and is unwilling to look at it in a negative light, would find this book very subversive. It threatens and criticizes the way of living of most who pride themselves in living a modern life. Heller shows through the ridiculousness of war how misguided much of modern society has become, in spite of all our so-called civilized advancement. Some will find this interesting, thought provoking and enjoy this book. Others will take it as a direct threat and insult to all the work they have done.

>From the very beginning, Heller shows some of the most popular ideas and values of the day in a negative, questioning light. In particular, he shows the negative consequences of conformity and highlights individuality as a way to survive. He wants us to recognize how one is controlled and stifled by society.

The leading character in this novel, addressing what has gone wrong with society, is Yossarian. He is the only one who recognizes the full craziness of what everyone is living for: wealth, false happiness, society's approval, etc. He is one of the few who tries to fight the p

Each of the characters in Yossarian's life at the base shows the reader one more example of how bad society has become. Clavinger tries to live life by reasoning. He looks for a reason in everything. In constantly looking for a reason why, he never enjoys life to it fullest. As further proof that this life leads nowhere, he is shot down and killed, certainly not an event with a rational explanation. Major is the person who obeys everyone, always trying to be perfect. He does everything that anyone asks of him, but takes it to an extreme. By being so naively obedient, instead of being helped by his comrades, he is shunned. This callousness from all humans soon leads him to be scared of any human contact. Aarfy seems to live happily, but only by giving up his integrity. He is totally unremorseful almost to the point of being inhuman. One witnesses the result of this unhealthy way of living when he murders a prostitute by throwing her out the window. He shows no emotion about thi!

In the chaplain, Heller portrays someone who is genuinely selfless and concerned about others. His heart is always wishing others well. However, he, as many others like him, is never heard or listened to and eventually turns to devious methods to be noticed. The chaplain represents the minority that is deserving of attention, but never listened to until it is too late. He gets so lonely and frustrated that even he starts to sin.

In Milo, Heller attacks the capitalist business practice of making money at any cost. When we first come across Milo, he is shown to have high moral standards. His lust for profit, however, soon overcomes these earlier leanings. At one point, he bombs his own friends and fellow army men for profit. By the end of the book, Milo has become such a robot, succumbed to greed and profit, that, because Milo has just found out a new way to make money, he walks out on Yossarian at a time

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Approximate Word count = 1276
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)