Contributing influences in terms of biographical background, culture, and history are examined within the context of Heller's novel in six pages. Two sources are cited in the bibliography.
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the institutions of various countries than the people themselves. He views this war as immoral and goes to extremes to prove his points. When one reads such a landmark
work as Hellers Catch-22, one wonders what sorts of cultural, historical and biographical influences went into the creating of the story. Paranoid and odd, Yossarian believes that everyone around
him is trying to kill him. All Yossarian wants, as most of the men wanted, was to be sent home. Unfortunately, this is frustrated because of his commander, Colonel
Cathcart who is continually raising the number of required missions. After his flight mate and crew are killed in a most hideous way,
Yossarian pleads with Doc Daneeka to ground him on the basis of insanity. Doc Daneeka replies that Yossarians appeal is useless because, according to army regulation Catch-22, insane men who
ask to be grounded prove themselves sane through a concern for personal safety. Truly crazy people are those who readily agree to fly more missions. The only way to be
grounded is to ask for it. Yet this act demonstrates sanity and thus demands further flying. Crazy or not, Yossarian is stuck.
Yossarian watches as many slowly lose their grip on reality as they fly mission after mission. The Catch 22, then is that which works against the most logical of actions.
Whenever the men try and behave rationally, the Catch-22 kicks in. In short, the men are told that they dont have to fly any more missions if they are crazy,
but they have to ask first, and anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isnt crazy (Heller,46). Finally, the commanding