Heller's Use Of Patriotism In Catch 22
Explain why Heller’s novel was able to become so popular during a period of optimism and idealism.
It is out of pure irony that Catch 22 was written in the time period of John F. Kennedy’s presidency. This time period of hope and patriotism did not call for a novel of such depressing, hopeless soldiers. The country was experiencing feelings of superiority and greatness, yet the novel portrays characters that run away and hid from enemies. One may wonder how this novel became such an inspiration when it’s themes and motifs were so off line for its time. Heller’s novel was able to become so popular because readers use the characters as a comparison of how patriotism should be, and the attitudes of the soldiers during World War II illustrates …show more content…
For example, the main character, Yossarian fakes injuries in order to stay the in hospital, because he does not want to risk his life in battle. He complains saying things such as “I think it’s my appendix bothering me” (Heller 176) and “ then I’ll just go back to the hospital” when he is soon to encounter another battle. Yossarian is so unpatriotic that he even “ goes absent without official leave from Milo” (Heller 405). Many characters in Heller’s novel simply have no motivation to serve and protect their country. One soldier states, “ there’s no patriotism, that’s what it is. And no matriotism, either” (Heller 123). Compared to the time period in which the novel was written, this mind set is unacceptable. Yossarian has such a negative attitude, it is even stated “morale was deteriorating and it was all Yossarian’s fault ”(Heller …show more content…
This movement was the “most vocal of all antiwar movements” (Kindig) due to the previously isolationism in American. Catch 22 resembles how wars would be if all soldiers were forced into combat, and take the war jokingly due to unwillingness to serve. For example, Havermeyer shoots mice to pieces, McWatt buzzes tents dangerously, Yossarian censors letters till no sense remains, and Orr seeks to be shot down. All of these men are not serving out of the goodness of their heart, but because they had no choice. Readers of the novel easily develop the opinion that our soldiers should not have this attitude, and use these soldiers as example for why the antiwar movement must be halted. The antiwar act make men psychologically ill prepared (Sheppard), which could end in defeat of the United States. This novel was a prime defense for those of the Kennedy era to battle the growing antiwar
It is out of pure irony that Catch 22 was written in the time period of John F. Kennedy’s presidency. This time period of hope and patriotism did not call for a novel of such depressing, hopeless soldiers. The country was experiencing feelings of superiority and greatness, yet the novel portrays characters that run away and hid from enemies. One may wonder how this novel became such an inspiration when it’s themes and motifs were so off line for its time. Heller’s novel was able to become so popular because readers use the characters as a comparison of how patriotism should be, and the attitudes of the soldiers during World War II illustrates …show more content…
For example, the main character, Yossarian fakes injuries in order to stay the in hospital, because he does not want to risk his life in battle. He complains saying things such as “I think it’s my appendix bothering me” (Heller 176) and “ then I’ll just go back to the hospital” when he is soon to encounter another battle. Yossarian is so unpatriotic that he even “ goes absent without official leave from Milo” (Heller 405). Many characters in Heller’s novel simply have no motivation to serve and protect their country. One soldier states, “ there’s no patriotism, that’s what it is. And no matriotism, either” (Heller 123). Compared to the time period in which the novel was written, this mind set is unacceptable. Yossarian has such a negative attitude, it is even stated “morale was deteriorating and it was all Yossarian’s fault ”(Heller …show more content…
This movement was the “most vocal of all antiwar movements” (Kindig) due to the previously isolationism in American. Catch 22 resembles how wars would be if all soldiers were forced into combat, and take the war jokingly due to unwillingness to serve. For example, Havermeyer shoots mice to pieces, McWatt buzzes tents dangerously, Yossarian censors letters till no sense remains, and Orr seeks to be shot down. All of these men are not serving out of the goodness of their heart, but because they had no choice. Readers of the novel easily develop the opinion that our soldiers should not have this attitude, and use these soldiers as example for why the antiwar movement must be halted. The antiwar act make men psychologically ill prepared (Sheppard), which could end in defeat of the United States. This novel was a prime defense for those of the Kennedy era to battle the growing antiwar