by Annette

Created on: April 22, 2009   Last Updated: April 23, 2009

My first attempt at Catch 22 was not very successful. I was too young, the first few pages too confusing and the book a bit on the heavy side. Luckily with age comes a bit more brain power. The second time around I was amazed and couldn't put the book down. I giggled, laughed, cried and just wanted to tell everybody around me "It's so clever". I realised after a while you can't tell somebody, they have to read it. Eventually I read it twice and watched the film a few times. I do prefer the book, though.

Yossarian, the main character and a pilot during the war, is a fascinating character that needs to get out of the war. He can only get out if he is crazy but to be classified as crazy he can't say he is crazy. If he can say he is crazy than he is not crazy. If he is sane, he has to stay. From there the phrase "Catch 22" that we use so often. You can't get out and that is it. The amount of missions they have to fly keep on increasing as well. Just when they think it is now the last one, there are suddenly more missions to be flown.

Heller is an exceptionally clever author that understands the madness of war. Who really wins a war? The people making money out of the war?

There is a strong comparison between Heller's view of war and that of the Epic playwright Bertolt Brecht. I had to read Caucasian Chalk Circle (CCC) again and immediately felt there is a strong connection between these two writers and their perception of war. In CCC Brecht claims that the soldiers on both sides are actually losers and it is only those who orchestrate wars that can walk out as winners. They are the ones that make money and they are never in danger as they are never physically part of the war. They watch and plan it from afar.

How many poor soldiers, like Yossarian would do anything to get out? But they are all trapped in this "Catch 22" situation. What choice do they have? How brain-washed are they by a society that needs to win no matter what? How brain-washed are they by power hunger politicians in the West and the drug lords and dictators of the African countries?

The longer I live and travel in Africa, the more I wonder how many 10 and 12 year old Yossarians are running around with machine guns and all they really want is a soccer ball and a few friends to play with.

How long will the innocent have to die to make those in power richer and stronger?

Catch 22 is now even more relevant than it ever was.

Learn more about this author, Annette.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.