Essay on Theism versus Atheism in Catch-22

Theism versus Atheism in Catch-22

Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22 deals with many issues that mankind is prone to deal with. One issue that is raised is the subject of theism versus atheism.

This argument is manifested in a dialogue, approximately two pages in length, between Yossarian, the main character, and Lieutenant Scheisskopf's wife. In this particular scene, Yossarian and the lieutenant's wife are debating the existence of G-d, presumably in the Judeo-Christian sense. The scene begins with each character introduced as an atheist, although the degeneration of the argument eventually proves somewhat otherwise. Yossarian is portrayed as a character in a perpetually negative mindset; he is invariably bitter and jaded, particularly because he has been forced to fight in World War II. Yossarian's experiences have led him to expect the worst from life, and to disbelieve in a g-d that causes such things as tooth decay and pain. The reader knows very little about Lieutenant Scheisskopf's wife, aside from her sexual escapades with the soldiers serving under her husband. Nevertheless, she seems to be under the impression that there are things in life to be grateful for under any circumstances. Yossarian attempts to prove his point through a long-winded and rather humorous speech about G-d being a bumbling fool who "robbed old people of the power to control their bowel movements" (189). While Yossarian raises a valid question against the existence of G-d, the fact that he debates the existence of G-d at all and speaks as though G-d exists provides the loophole necessary for this G-d to be a Catch-22.

Taken into consideration without the idea of Catch-22, the singular flaw in Yossarian's argument is that h...

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... point of silliness) directly opposite a serious point in order to make the point more obvious. The fact that Heller chose religion as a subject to tackle shows great strength, particularly considering that Catch-22 was originally written in the late 1950s - a time in which the concept free-thinking was still in its infancy. The method of satire as a means of attacking an issue provides an effective outlet for the expression of ideas while maintaining a light overtone as a defense against retaliation. The scene pertaining to the atheism debate was both amusing and thought provoking, a task difficult to overcome.

Works Cited:

Heller, Joseph. The Chelsea House Library of Literary Criticism. Twentieth-Century American Literature Vol. 3. New York. Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.

Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. New York: Dell Publishing, 1991