Classic Review: CATCH-22 Where I examine why this book is considered one the most influential books every written

Several times in the past few months I've examined lists put together by some literary luminary or another and many of the lists name Catch-22 by Joseph Keller in the top 20 Best Books of the 20th Century, some even have it in the top ten. (See lists here, here, here, here, here, and here.) Why? What is it that makes this anti-war novel so influential? Published between two messy wars, WWII and Vietnam, is made a strong indictment of war in general. Pointing out through satire the inhumanity of man's most insane practice --war!

Catch-22 tells the story of Captain John Yossarian, a bombardier in the US Army Air Corp. flying missions over Europe. Instead of feeling proud of his service he feels sheer madness. As soon as he nears his required number of flight missions, the Colonel ups the required number. There is no winning. So Yossarian makes his way to the infirmary, the only place on the base where he is safe from flying missions. His systems? Some vague liver complaints and a fear of being killed --

"They're trying to kill me," Yossarian told him calmly.

"No one's trying to kill you," Clevinger cried.

"Then why are they shooting at me?" Yossarian asked.

"They're shooting at everyone," Clevinger answered. "They're trying to kill everyone."

"And what difference does that make?" (Chapter 2)

It is at this point that Yossarian runs afoul of the Catch-22. Today we use this term to mean a situation with no way out. For Yossarian and his fellow fighter pilots were forced to follow insane orders to demonstrate their sanity. But if they refused to follow orders, they are deemed crazy, which is the sanest position to take. If reminds me of Clinger in the old Mash TV show. He kept doing more and more out-there behaviors, trying to be sent home for insanity. But as soon as he calls himself insane it is proof that he isn't. It's a Catch-22. 

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. (Chapter 5)

Catch-22 not only deals with the absurdity of war. It also deal with the hypocrisy of military bureaucracy. A Colonel trying to gain favor with a General requires his fighter pilots to drop their bombs in a tight bomb pattern, not because that it more deadly or effective, but because it looks better on the photographs. Upping the required number of missions before furloughs isn't good for morale but it Makes it more likely that the Colonel will be promoted, and all he really cares about is himself. When Major Major Major, the Squadron Commander, realizes his men don't really like him so he decides to never talk to them. He tells his sergeant to not allow anyone in his office when he is there, including him. While Colonel Korn made a rule that only certain people were allowed to ask questions during their briefing meetings.

Under Colonel Korn's rule, the only people permitted to ask questions were those who never did. (Chapter 4)

Other themes in Catch-22 are mortality, sex, greed and fear. One of the oddest characters in the book is Milo Minderbinder. He is the air-base head chef, but he is always cutting deals, originally to get better food for the base, but later just to make money. But it is really because he is greedy. As a wheeler-dealer, he makes deals with the Germans which hurt the Americans. He is a symbol of ruthless capitalism. There are people in all nations who worship money. Oddly one can't help liking Milo, everyone does.

My husband and I listened to Catch-22 together on a recent car trip. I often found myself laughing because he was laughing. As a combat veteran, Don found a lot of humor it -- the absurdity of orders which made no sense; the individuals who worked so hard to get out of their jobs. At one point he started laughing about a phrase which involved cuss words. I started laughing because he was laughing and pretty soon both of us were doubled over in laughter. The book is so irreverent it is funny. When Don was in Iraq he experienced his own Catch-22 ironic situations -- "Where were those weapons of mass destruction we came to Iraq to get?" Throughout his military career he had many of his colleagues make references to the book or to Catch-22s in general. As an anti-war book, it is not high on the reading list for officer professional development but fellow officers, who had read the book, always found ways to reference it or to name the Catch-22s they were encountering. 

I must confess, however, that the book did go on a bit long. You know what I mean? One starts out laughing and pretty soon, due to repetition, one merely rolls their eyes. That was me. The book became less and less funny as the insane situation kept happening, or as we come to understand the seriousness of the war and the conditions these men were encountering.

When I was in high school I tried to read Catch-22. I honestly don't think I read very much of it, nor understood what I was reading because very little of the story was familiar to me. Now I can say, proudly, I've read Catch-22 and I am so glad. And those folks over at Shmoop have more to say about it,

If this sounds a bit hard to follow, it's because, well, war is the ultimate destruction of logic. This book has won countless accolades to drive that point home. But don't take our word for it. Given its cultural importance, leaving this book off your reading list would be ... insane. (Shmoop)

My rating: 4 stars.

At 453 pages it qualities as a big book for the Big Book Summer Challenge.

-Anne