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.