No Soldier May Leave: The Movie Catch 22

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Catch-22 was definitely a catch! This “law” was the main metaphor of how crazy war really was and of the military authority. Joseph Heller used this catch in a humorous way, basically making it a loophole preventing any soldier from leaving the war. “Insane or not, the young men are indirectly forced to engage in combat and fight for a war they do not know about” (http://epubl.itu.se). He uses much black humor throughout the book, to relieve the horrors of war, death, and so on. He also uses so many unique techniques which can get so confusing, that the reader is distracted from the true terror and agony that people face in war. There are 3 specific examples of black humor in the book. For example, Heller makes the army unable to comprehend death and life. Secondly, he satirizes death and rape and last but not least miscommunication, which is key to everything.

It is quite ironic how a dead man is said to be living and how an obviously living man is claimed to be dead. This is how Heller uses black humor in this particular scenario. It’s amazing the power of written word. Most people think that if it’s put in print it has to be so (answers.com). This is exactly what took place in Yossarian’s squadron. There were countless mix ups in the files, claiming people were dead when they really weren’t and vice versa. (answers.com). For example, the dead man in Yossarian’s tent. He accidentally reported to the wrong squadron and soon died hours later on a mission. Since he was not listed on paper, he was believed to never have been there. On another occasion, Doc Daneeka had bribed Yossarian to alter paperwork saying he was flying a mission, when really, he wasn’t. (http://books.google) The plane crashed and he was pronounced dead. The c...

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...on the other line was “T.S. Eliot” (Catch 22, chapter 4, page 36) which caused a ruckus in their station. The Generals and Colonels were perplexed and took this phrase as something sinister. The irony is, something as so harmless as that, can turn into foolishness. It shows the true bearing of their lives (http://sparknotes.com).

Catch-22 was a whirlpool of emotions. Everyone was pretty much crazy and didn’t realize it. Injury and death was a given in the end, no one could prevent it, unless fleeing the squadron like Yossarian. Heller did a great job explaining and bringing out the true colors of war without making it too gruesome. Comedy filled the story as he satirized death, injury, murder, and miscommunication. All of these things go hand in hand and if you don’t have a properly functioning government/ leadership, it will end up in madness, just like Catch-22.

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