Although seen on the surface as a mere comedy about the destructiveness of war;.

             Catch-22 becomes more than what is seen on the cover. Through Catch-22 Joseph Heller permeates the idea that there is no single definitive truth, that the world is the form of a continual clash of truths. Heller permeates his ideas of existentialism throughout the novel. Each character lives within his/her own world where each creates their individual ideas of right and wrong. Through this no single truth remains a constant.

             The principal behind existentialism states that oneself is the only definitive reference to what may be perceived of the world. The only truths that remain become those created by the individual. Each character within Catch-22 lives within the world perceived by their mind, the ideas of right and wrong perpetuated by the individual. From the start this idea is clearly evident. The novel begins with the main character Yossarian faking an injury within a military hospital to keep from flying another mission. Unlike others within the hospital who get back to the fight as soon as they can, Yossarian prolongs his stay as long as possible. These men have differing views of the war. The other soldiers view it as a fight for their country and honor whereas Yossarian personalizes the war. Yossarian says that everyone is trying to kill "him." The other men fight for the honor they believe in while Yossarian runs from the personal destruction he perceives. For Yossarian the truth of war becomes the death of all including himself. No man becomes able to relate or work in accordance with each other, destroying any and all absolute truths, leaving only the mans truth.

             Each man becomes blind to the views of other men. Colonel Cathcart, the general, continues to increase the number of missions necessary to get out of the army. In his eyes he sees this as a perfectly acceptable sacrifice to increase his rank.