Catch 22 Blog Post 3

As I read Catch 22 I realized how society creates expectations that go against the most natural human instincts. This fake expectations justify many actions and behaviors that are truly cruel and absurd.

            The war is the best example of this idea. Society and governments have created ideals that hold people who are brave and willing to die as the true heroes. Yossarian demonstrates that this idea is completely unnatural, he refuses to die in the hands of strangers for a cause that he doesn’t care about. His rebelliousness and lack of discipline for the army portrays him as a coward. What is especially absurd is that society has created expectations that praise dying and killing other human beings for reason so absurd as nations and religion. Yossarian is the strange heroe, because by being a coward he is the heroe and the rebel, by being a coward he is also the bravest man in the squadron. He is so brave that he decides to be a coward when everyone around him wants him to be courageous.

He is immersed in a hostile setting that reveals the true nature of humanity, in this setting is were the irony and absurdity of the expectations created by society is most evident. To justify war and all its acts expectations are created that manage to uphold war as a morally correct thing.

Catch 22 Blog Post 2

The novel Catch 22 shares certain similarities with Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. They are both a harsh critique on the absurdity of war and destruction. And how the people in charge often abuse people below them. However Catch 22 does this in a hilarious, very satirical way. Heart of Darkness is quite opposite; it is a very serious and harsh novel. The two main characters-Yossarian and Marlow-are similar too since they are so critical and skeptical of society and bureaucracy that they reject their environment completely.

            Although the novels are set in different time periods the idea they convey is very similar. In Heart of Darkness the ruling people are abusing someone else they consider inferior and imposing their “superiority” on them. In Catch 22, the war is against a clear enemy and some would even dare to say it was a righteous war. The abuse, in this case, happens from the ruling bureaucracy to their own soldiers. The point made is still very similar. They both state the hypocrisy and absurd nature of war and imperialism. As Marlow travels to the jungle he realizes how evil this enterprise is and how it is ironically masked for good. The “white man’s burden” creates a cover for the atrocity and economical convenience that imperialism brings. It is a very ironical concept, by trying to help someone they are actually brutalizing them. In Catch 22 this ironic element is also very present in the concept of catch 22. Anyone who is sane wouldn’t want to stay in the war and would express this desire, however the only way to get discharged is by asking. The army needs all the sane men they can have, so if you request your discharge you are assumed sane and effectively not discharged. This irony reflects again the absurdity present in both novels. Using deceptive circular reasoning “catches” you avoid having anyone discharged. The men are trapped in a satirical circle that abuses them and uses them for warfare. In both novels we see how the upper ruling classes, enjoy the luxuries of the big cities or the better tents or Milo’s best over-priced eggs. This happens while the slaves in the Congo, or the enlisted men in Italy die and are abused by the system.

            Yossarian and Marlow are rebels to this system, they of course have certain differences. Yossarian is funnier and more sarcastic and ironical. He is what many people would consider a coward. But how can anyone not be a coward in that situation? He expresses this very well, when he mentions that they are trying to kill him and McWatt rejects this statement. And Yossarian replies that he is being shot from everywhere by everyone, how is it that they aren’t trying to kill him. What McWatt means is that they aren’t trying to kill him in particular, which is even more absurd. They are trying to kill him and they don’t even know who he is. Yossarian is a the human representation of the absurdity of war: it is so ridiculous that it naturalizes the idea of unknown people being ordered to shoot each other for matters not of their own.

            Marlow is also against his surroundings. He hates the idea of imperialism and in some way takes a part in it, much like Yossarian. Marlow takes a different stance, he endures and conforms with the horror around him. His way of rebelling is by telling a story and expressing his rejection of imperialism. His point of view as a narrator is so insightful and deep that he shows a very cruel world in a very impacting way. He sees in the darkness that is the wole hypocrisy of imperialism, yet he truly does nothing.

            Both novels critique their environment’s cruelty, they do it through different ways: Comedy and Drama. Their characters are in similar situations, involved in a war they detest. However Yossarian hates the idea of war and is more concerned for his own well-being, practically not giving a damn about others. Marlow is more conscientious and reputes the cruelty towards others, given that he isn’t in as much danger as Yossarian he doesn’t fear for his life. Both characters are used to portray the criticism exerted on the practices of what Chief Bromden might call the “Combine”.

Catch 22 blog 1

As I read Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, I couldn’t help comparing to Dr Strangelove a film by Stanley Kubrick. Both works are harshly criticizes the war and do so in a very satirical way which is at times hysterical. At the same time they both, simplify war to the pulp and show its true absurd nature.

Dr. Strangelove’s plot revolves around an ultra nationalist Brigadier General’s plan to start the Third World War. He puts into a motion a secret code that when transmitted orders certain plains to detonate bombs over major Russian targets. This code is supposed only to be created under duress and implies that the USA’s homeland security has been compromised. As he transmits the code, he informs his base that the country has been compromised and that any incoming attack-even if it is apparently from the US army- should be repelled. He basically creates a plan that forced nuclear war to escalate, and the only one who can stop this plan is him. If by any chance the army attacks it will be taken as enemy invasion. This premise is very similar to the catch 22 present in Catch 22. It is in a different context and deals with different issues, but both ideas are circular. Meaning that they are designed to have no solution and no escape. In this catch 22, if you request relieve you are sane and they need all sanity possible in the field. If you complete your missions and stay for duty you are crazy-because anyone wanting to be in war is crazy-but you didn’t request your leave so you can’t be relieved.

In Catch 22 as in Dr. Strangelove, there is a strong criticism on the nationalism and paranoia that war and conflict arise. In Catch 22, Captain Black suffers from an outburst of paranoia. He decides to make everybody in the squadron sign loyalty pledges and sing the national anthem and recite the pledge of allegiance. In his mind, more pledges, and shows and recitals meant more loyalty. Anyone who wasn’t part of this charade was labeled a commie, or even a worse a German. In Captain Black’s case there is also another catch. He dislikes Major Major-major is his title and his name and his last name-so he doesn’t allow Major Major to sign pledges. Automatically Major Major is flagged as a commie and even though he wants to sign pledges he is not allowed to. The parallel isn’t exact but, in Dr Strangelove we see how war raises paranoia in the same way. The Brigadier Generals plan shows the audience that under pressure of war the mind can be driven to a state of complete paranoia, and makes people do absurd things.

The satirical tone of both works is clear and extremely efficient when it comes to criticizing war. In my opinion comedy is the best way to criticize something. For example, in Catch 22 there is a very important briefing where Coronel Catchcart, General Dreedle and Coronel Korn are addressing the low rank officers. During this event, Yossarian sees an attractive nurse and starts moaning, as this happens the whole room of officers enters in a moaning war charged with chaos, and passion. As this happens true human nature is revealed, even in the middle of a very tense meeting of war, the officers’ sexual urges rise above everything. In Dr. Strangelove, this comic effect is also used. The Soviet ambassador arrives to the pentagon to discuss the crisis. He starts taking pictures through a covert camera in his lighter. The American general tackles him and starts rough housing with the ambassador, like two children. This scene is very funny and serves to illustrate the purposelessness and immaturity of war.

Both works were published in the 60’s, which makes them highly controversial in their medium. While Catch 22 is set in WWII and Dr. Strangelove in the Cold War, both are timely criticisms on the politics of their country and of the nationalist, polar tendencies existent in the people of the country. Through humor they warn about the dangers of war, how in times of duress things escalate quickly and everything is permitted.

HAMLET THE PROCRASTINATOR

Procrastination is a problematic issue, especially for students and young people. This was also the case for Hamlet. Perhaps not in the same conditions or for the same reasons but Hamlet is a master of procrastination.

Nowadays what drives us to procrastinate are the many “better” things that we can do with our time. TV, facebook, PS3, fifa, twitter, movies, sleeping, who would honestly choose to do homework? The thing is that we as students have to do things, which a lot of times are, boring and long, but that will eventually help us succeed later on in life. At least that is what teachers say, and we believe them. But the issue is that sometimes this amount of homework turns to procrastination. Any student who knows has had a large amount of homework at any time knows this feeling. There is so much to do that you decide to do it later and simply wait for the deadline to force you to work. We as students face this and often lack the willpower to do our duties. Hamlet faces this too during his part in the play.

The prince of Denmark might not be faced with a “sea of homework”, his indecision might not be “To read or not to read”. But he does face a problem, and just like a student he knows the solution. His uncle has killed his father. The solution: to avenge his father and achieve justice in the Kingdom of Denmark. However, just like any student his task is so enormous that he puts it off as long as he can. The reasons are different. Hamlet might not have the distractions of Facebook or FIFA, but he does have a couple of events and characters who distract him. First he investigates to assure what he already knows to be true. Then he is presented with a chance to do it, but he wastes it because it would send Claudius to heaven. It is only when he is motivated by Fontinbras that he decides to take action. Even then he is reluctant and circumvents the task at hand. At the end he achieves his task in the same way of a highschool student: pressured by deadlines. In his case Deadlines are actually DEADLY. It is only in his dying moments that he takes revenge in Claudius. And like any student working against the clock, he achieves his task but gets a failing grade.

The power of literature

Hamlet has been staged all along the world, in many ways. It is a universal play. However, few times has it been brought to live with such impact and significance as in this high security prison. The play reflects many behaviors going on in prisons as well as the identities of prisoners themselves.

            It is very interesting to see how the prisoners reflect on their mistakes while they are characters on the play. They are impersonating characters who have acted in-what today would be deemed-illegal behavior. For example the actor who interprets Claudius is being confronted with killing a person, and committing a crime. I can imagine that as the scene within Claudius’ confession progressed, the inmate wasn’t playing a character he was truly repenting. Just as the person who plays the Ghost, he sees in the ghost the victim of his horrible crime. He murdered somebody, and as he read the play he felt that the ghost spoke to him. The power that the play has on the inmates is stronger than the thickest concrete wall or the most solid shackles.

            There is an interesting parallel with Hamlet and the prison’s structure. There are “killer whales”, and “guppies”. The killer whales hold the power entirely and in a prison this power is shown in cruel ways. This fear holds people back and prevents them from speaking freely. Their lives become plays, they show characters that are necessary for them to survive in prison and avoid the atrocities that happen there. That is why it was so hard for prisoners to act in plays, even if they wanted to. By acting they should weakness and might be perceived as “sissies”.

            During the podcast I felt like having a conversation with the jesters, especially when listening to “Big Hutch”. His size and power gave him a capability to speak freely, which is something very odd in places like this. They all spoke freely and naturally, they said what they felt and did in a very realistic perspective.

            This podcast reminded me of one of my favorite movies: The Shawshank Redemption. As I listened to the thoughts of these men, and their regret, their true desire for a second chance, I thought of a scene of this movie. Andy, enters the room with the intercom, he finds a record player and plays a records by “two A-talian ladies” he plays it outloud in the intercom for the entire prison two hear: “and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.

Hamlet J Alfred Prufrock

People at least once in their life face a moment of true indecision. That moment-be it seconds or days long-were reaching a decision seems to be a nearly impossible task. Sometimes the decision is clear but the path to it is scary or foggy. This is the case of two very different individuals: Prince Hamlet and J Alfred Prufrock. Both of them have reached a decision, but for very different reason they can’t find a way to make that decision a reality. Prufrock’s indecision roots in his insecurity and overthinking, on the other hand Hamlet is so consumed by rage and hate that he can’t execute a plan to fulfill his wishes.

It is important to discover the object of the two characters’ obsessions. iN Hamlet’s case it is his father’s death, the desire to avenge him from his murderous uncle and treacherous mother. In J Alfred Prufrock’s case it is a woman that captured his heart. This is the first clue towards understanding the differences between the two characters’ situations. Hamlet’s indecision comes from a negative situation, the death of his father in the hands of his uncle. This causes emotions of hate and rage. Prufrock is in love, he feels the most powerful and normally positive emotion a human can feel. Ironically the emotions linked with Hamlet’s desire for revenge have more power over his actions and make him more driven towards his goal. With love comes vulnerability, when love is truly present the person is vulnerable. This is why Prufrock is dithering to declare his love, he is scared of rejection and being hurt. That is the first difference between Hamlet and Prufrock: Hamlet is decided on his ends due to the aggressive nature of his situation, Prufrock wants to do something but he isn’t completely sure that it would benefit him.

Hamlet’s position in his environment is very different to Prufrock’s. He is a Prince, a powerful and confident person. Prufrock is an insecure, shy person, a tertiary character: “I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; I am an attendant lord”. This makes Hamlet’s path to his goal easier he has more ability and power to achieve revenge. Prufrock is unnoticed and isolated, curiously enough those aren’t characteristics that appeal to a woman.

The indecision itself isn’t the same for Hamlet and Prufrock. Hamlet can’t decide how he wants to avenge his father, he is so angry that he wants to inflict as much pain as possible on Claudius. He wants his revenge to be perfect. Prufrock decides he wants to talk to a woman but in some level he knows he can’t do it and fantasized with his love affair with this woman. He considers-somewhat hopelessly-that by changing himself he will get this woman. “Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare eat a peach?”.

Finally Hamlet achieves his goal, Claudius ends up dead. However Laertes and Gertrude die in the process, not to mention him. At the end Hamlet dies with peace, he makes amends with Laertes and dies with a heroic scene and Claudius’s agonizing shouts. Prufrock grows old, in the midst of fantasies which remain that. He dies in an ironic peace: We have lingered in the chambers of the sea/By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown/ Till human voices wake us, and we drown.” Prufrock dies in an ironic peace, he realizes that fear held him back his whole life but realizes he was comfortable being an attendant guard in Prince Hamlet’s heroic death.

Body Paragraph

In One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest it is seen that as time goes by since McMurphy’s arrival, the balance of power inside the ward shifts as the Big Nurse looses power. The power that is held by The Combine starts to weaken as the weak patients start gaining confidence and power.

It is not only in the novel that this issue happens, the historical context in which the novel was written is that of rebellion and antiestablishment demonstration. During the 1950’s-before the book was written-and 1960’s-shortly after the book was published-many cases of people, who are oppressed or trampled, who defy the power of the Combine. The Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s is a perfect example of this change in power. An oppressed group of people fought-even the government-to acquire equality and rights that every human being should have. This time period is also the time period is also marked with the happening of the Cold War, in another aspect this can also be seen as a shift in the balance of power. The USSR with its communist regime starts to defy the powers of capitalism that rose in the lathe nineteenth century in England. As the red wave of communism attempted to take over the world, the USA did the same with its capitalist model and its tricky propaganda. In this particular case there are two Combines; one defying the existing power of the other, just to replace it with other oppressive politics-perhaps more direct and tyrannical. The dispute between this two Combines created the same effect that the struggle between McMurphy and Miss Ratched did: sometimes the patients lost-Cheswick, Billy Bibbit-and other times they were liberated like Chief Bromden. Taking those events into account it is not surprising that the values of American society in 1950’s reflect a necessity for power. The American Dream, a car, a big house with a corporate job, it shows a necessity for control that was created by the very events that happened previously. The mix of all these events lead to a very scared society-the patients-that allowed any inmorale action the Combine saw fit to accomplish their goals. However both Miss Ratched and McMurphy’s methods are questionable. In the novel Miss Ratched manages to make the patients doubt MacMurphy when she tells them that he is out to get rich and that his goal is actually selfish. This coincides with McMurphy realizing he doesn’t wan to spend his life on the Ward and starts to behave slightly better. At this moment the shift in the balance of power that happens stops and favors Miss Ratched for a second. It is only when McMurphy and The Chief fight the guards that the balance of power leans completely towards McMurphy, and the Nurse looses most of her power.

Just like Miss Ratched, the Combine of the 1950’s America controlled their patients through fear. However, like McMurphy came to defy Miss Ratched, there were certain people how defied the Combine. Although many of the events happened after the book was written, they do reflect the spirit of time. The antiestablishment movements that protested the war in Vietnam is a perfect example of this. The patients were tired of the abuses and atrocities committed by the Combine-no matter what goal they were trying to pursue. Basically around that time, we see that a very intrusive and radical Combine emerges and has a power struggle with the other Combine. One could say that USSR and USA represent McMurphy and Miss Ratched, and that the shift in power is only so that McMurphy can abuse the patients too. It is also plausible that McMurphy is more like the protestors of the Civil Rights movement or the Vietnam War, that are trying to defy the Combine not always in the most correct ways. Any of those two analyses is perfectly valid. In a way the two perspectives are true, McMurphy might want to acquire power to liberate the inmates from the tyrannical rule of Nurse Ratched only to take over and apply his own kind of justice and rule. Even though McMurphy’s methods may be questionable and that his purpose is not always the best it is agreeable that he intends to replace an oppressive form of government. The representation of the values and events of the time period is show simoultaneously in many different ways. The USSR, for example, could represent McMurphy in the sense that they both try to take down a regime they consider oppressive. Ironically one can see McMurphy as the USA trying to battle a tyrannical, cruel Combine that deprives people from their freedom. During the 1950’s, 1960’s, and even 1970’s-despite that this is after the books publication- there is a wave of instability in the institutions in leading to an inversion in the possession of control and power. Civil Rights Movements, the Cold War, Vietnam War protestation, the various revolutions around the world and the birth of a new generation of individuals-true individuals in the sense of individuality and freedom of spirit and mind- are all different forms of challenges to existing powers. Whether it is a Combine challenging the power of another combine, or an oppressed group fighting the tyrants, or the general public who is tired of the abuses of the Combine, control and power belonged to a different person or group even if for a short period of time. Parallel to this, in the book McMurphy slowly takes over the Ward until the party were he completely takes power over everyone and becomes in charge. The climax of his rule comes when he chokes the nurse and completely destroys her. After this he is lobotomized and martyrized, and even though he is practically dead his figure and ideals lives on to inspire the Chief-and almost everyone else-to escape the Ward and defeat the Combine.